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Signing of a Funding Agreement Worth 983,935,500 CFA francs (1.5 Million Euro) -Between the Central Africa Forestry and environmental Training Institutions Network (RIFFEAC) and the French Development Agency (AFD).

Project to Support the Enhancement of Training-Job Adequacy (PARAFE) in the Forestry Sector in Central Africa

A funding agreement was signed on December 10, 2013, between the Central Africa Forestry and Environmental Training Institutions Network (RIFFEAC), represented by Mr. Ibrahim SOULEYMANE SAMBO, RIFFEAC Regional Coordinator, the French Ambassador to Cameroon, Mrs Christine ROBICHON, and The French Development Agency (AFD), represented by Mr. Hervé CONAN, its Director in Cameroon, Mr. Raymond MBITIKON, COMIFAC Executive Secretary being present.

This agreement concerns a grant worth 983 935 500 F CFA (1.5 M €) to fund a regional support project for the enhancement of Training-Job Adequacy (PARAFE) in the Central Africa forestry sector over a three-year period (2013 – 2016).

The project aims at improving the professional qualification of stakeholders in the forestry and environmental sector and concerns (i) training institutions, members of the network (RIFFEAC) in charge of forestry and environmental training and  (ii) the private forestry and environmental sector, top employer of staff or senior staff trained by these institutions.

The three-component PARAFE project shall mainly (i) improve the quality of in-house and block-released specialization training offered by RIFFEAC training institutions in order to increase the number of qualified staff or senior staff to meet the skills needs of companies. It will also help to (ii) draft a system of reference for professions and skills for priority jobs to be selected in three COMIFAC countries and based on an analysis of the gap between training offered by the institutions of the network and skills needs expressed by the private forestry and environmental sector. Finally, the project (iii) shall facilitate capacity building in in-house training engineering in the network member training institutions and within the project logging companies.

The benefits of the project shall include (i) the improvement of the economic and social performances of forestry stakeholders (students, professionals) through the renovation of professional practices to ensure young graduates a better access to and professionals adapt to the new requirements of the job market, (ii) the enhancement of the professional training co-management by the State and the profession through the implication of the forestry profession in the drafting of a system of reference for professions and skills and block-released specialization training promoted in the network member institutions.

Please download the press Release: HERE