Project description

Title: Promotion of Crafts and Vocational Training
Commissioned by: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Guinea
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Tourism, Hotels and Handicraft
Overall term: October 1996 to March 2008

Context

Guinea has little industry. Local crafts and trades are of great importance throughout the country in terms of production, employment and vocational training. Masters of crafts and trades have usually had no formal vocational training, however, and their technical and commercial knowledge is limited. The training of apprentices is of correspondingly poor quality. Crafts and tradespersons are strongly interested in organising themselves to improve the situation through their own efforts.

The project, which works directly with various organisations for craftspersons in Labé and Mamou, is building on this interest and promoting the expansion and improvement of the range of services which crafts associations offer their membership. 

The project helps craftspersons join together into guilds and trade associations.

Objective

Craftspersons’ organisations in Guinea’s Labé and Mamou regions have a greater capacity to improve the economic and social circumstances of their members.

Approach

The performance capability and range of services of the associations and guild-like professional organisations for craftspeople and tradespersons are being improved by means of training and upgrading measures and advisory services. The Guinean GTZ staff employed for purposes of training are systematically passing on their knowledge and skills to crafts and trades representatives.

The regional trades associations selected in Labé and Mamou are helping the grassroots crafts and trades organisations in their areas to become active.

The project is attempting to introduce dual vocational training for carpenters and metal-construction workers on a pilot basis at a vocational training centre. Other project efforts focus on auto mechanics and seamstresses.

Results achieved so far

Before the project began, tradespersons in Labé and Mamou were not organised at all. Today their various organisations number 3,300 members.

To date more than 6,000 persons have taken the technical upgrading courses alone. Crafts- and tradespersons take part in trade fairs in Guinea and other areas in West Africa, put on fashion shows and join forces to improve their supplies of raw materials.

With project support, more than 1,000 crafts- and tradespersons, primarily women, have learned to read and write. Turnover and income from their businesses have increased despite the country’s difficult economic situation, and many of them now enjoy better living conditions.