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The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Brazil-Africa Institute (BAI) have launched the Youth Technical Training Programme (YTTP) − an initiative that aims to train young African professionals in research and technology transfer, contributing to local capacity development.

The YTTP initiative is sponsored under the South–South Cooperation Trust Fund (SSCTF) and will consists of an array of professional development schemes to meet diverse needs of African countries by utilizing Brazil’s technology, skills and knowledge. Focus areas include agriculture and rural development, health, education, information and communication, infrastructure, and the creative industry.

As part of this initiative, both parties on Thursday, September 14, announced the commencement of training of African youth for rewarding careers in cassava processing.

The first batch of the YTTP training, which was flagged off at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, targets 30 young African professionals (between the ages of 18 and 35) of the cassava value-chain selected from 14 countries. The trainees will receive a two-month training on the production chain of cassava at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) − a state-owned centre in Brazil.  

The cassava training initiative was launched in close collaboration with the Brazil-Africa Institute, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Cassava is considered crucial to the food security of millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The development of the cassava training programme is one of the many programmes of ENABLE (Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment) Youth Programme of the AfDB. There will be more of such programmes to be developed with the Brazil Africa Institute,” said Chiji Ojukwu, AfDB’s Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industries.

Two of the trainees, Viviane Kacou of Côte d’Ivoire and Oyesiji Funmilayo of Nigeria, said they will use the opportunity of the training to enhance their capacities and become role models for other youths in their respective countries.