30.05.2025
In its final year of implementation, the ADEFAC project is reaching a major milestone: the operational rollout of continuing education modules designed by partner institutions and private sector stakeholders. In Cameroon, as in the other beneficiary countries, 2025 marks the concrete establishment of a sustainable professionalization dynamic.
The ADEFAC project (Support for the Development of Continuing Education in the Forestry and Timber Sectors in Central Africa), implemented in four countries—Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the DRC—was designed to respond to the growing need to structure the forestry and timber sector. It is distinguished by an innovative pedagogical approach based on andragogy and a skills-based approach, which enables trainers and institutions to develop autonomous training modules directly tailored to the needs on the ground.
In 2025, the project is in its rollout phase: the modules created by the supported trainers are now being offered in partner institutions. In Cameroon, 15 modules have been implemented since March, illustrating the diversity of the skills targeted.
· At Don Bosco Ebolowa, artisans are trained in tool sharpening and the use of sanding machines, thereby improving the quality of wood processing.
· At Don Bosco Mimboman, the focus is on wood drying techniques and introduction to digital tools (MS Office), in response to modernization challenges.
· The ENEF in Mbalmayo is positioning itself as a center of excellence in sustainable forest management, with advanced training in SIGIF 2, forest phenology, log measurement, and botanical identification.
· The “Artisan au féminin” initiative develops technical training courses for women artisans on topics such as the use of CNC machines, biochar production, and utility furniture making.
This rollout illustrates one of ADEFAC's major successes: the empowerment of training structures, which are now able to respond quickly to the expectations of the labor market. By strengthening local skills, supporting trainers, and providing appropriate teaching tools, the project contributes to the sustainability of a contextualized, flexible continuing education offering that is rooted in the realities on the ground.
ADEFAC is thus confirming its role as a springboard for sustainable and inclusive vocational training for the forestry and wood sector in Central Africa.
