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Family Farming Schools Network (Ecoles Familiales Agricoles - EFA)

3_1_1  Sector: Vocational Training
Location: Abidjan and rural regions in Côte d'Ivoire
Local Partner: The Plate-forme des Ecoles Familiales Agricoles de Côte d\'Ivoire (PEFACI) (Family Farming Schools Platform)
Start of Partnership: 1997

 

Context and Considerations

Côte d’Ivoire’s rural regions are currently impoverishing due to their low production yields
and the lack of esteem which farming professions hold among the population.
Furthermore, the political crisis raging since 2002 obstructs most prospects of economical
recovery. The rural exodus among local young people is therefore significant.

Solution Proposed

Since 1997, the IECD has been supporting the PEFACI’s (The Platform of Family Farming
Schools in Côte d’Ivoire) projects in order to promote development activities in Côte d’Ivoire’s
agricultural sector.

This is done in partnership with local associations; the organization supports the Family
Farming Schools (EFA) which offer technical qualifications to the rural youths. The trainings
are provided over a three-year period and are mostly aimed at young, illiterate people (60%
of whom are girls) and adults (80% of whom are women). They try to harmonize traditional
farming methods and innovative modern techniques. The aim is to form rural entrepreneurs
who will be able to adapt to the new agricultural conditions in Côte d’Ivoire.


Impact and Results

In 2009, the EFA network numbers 41 schools, with a total of 1200 registered students
(often young people and their parents). 68 former students are being monitored by the
PEFACI as they are launching their own economic initiatives. The PEFACI and the IECD
are building a more advanced technical and professional training centre for former EFA
students who wish to pursue their studies and improve their know-how. The Centre will
be opened in September 2010 and it will offer a two-year training program intended to
reinforce the professional integration of rural youths. It also wants to support the
entrepreneurs in developing new projects. Furthermore, the PEFACI is still pursuing
measures in order to get the EFA training officially recognized by the Ministry of
Professional Training in Yamoussoukro.