CB-VET Ghana project unites education and industry in climate-smart agriculture training
Maastricht School of Management (MSM) is proud to announce the successful activation of working groups within the VET Ecosystem for Employability in Ghana (CB-VET) project, where MSM leads as a key partner. This development was marked by a recent workshop organized by our Ghanaian collaborators, launching these working groups as essential hubs for collaboration and knowledge sharing. By uniting stakeholders from both the education and industry sectors, we are laying the groundwork for climate-smart agriculture training that directly responds to local market needs.
The project seeks to bridge the gap between academia and industry through a strong local network involving institutions like Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Kwadaso Agricultural College. This network, with support from other Ghanaian and European partners, aims to build a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector equipped to tackle pressing climate and food security challenges.
During a recent meeting to assess the project's progress, project lead Dr. Ishak Shaibu emphasized the importance of aligning academic curricula with industry requirements to equip graduates with skills that are immediately relevant to the workforce. “This initiative will create a sustainable network of stakeholders and resources focused on climate-smart agriculture,” Dr. Ishak explained, highlighting the project’s commitment to fostering a local approach to climate-smart practices.
Dr. Eli Gaveh, another member of the project, shared his vision for harnessing digitalization to connect farmers with markets, reducing post-harvest losses and improving market intelligence. “Digital solutions are crucial to bridging the gap between farmers and buyers, which in turn supports sustainable growth in Ghana’s agricultural sector,” he noted.
Funded by the European Union, this initiative brings together a broad coalition of Ghanaian and European academic and vocational training institutions, NGOs, and industry partners. The CB-VET project is committed to enhancing agricultural vocational education and training (ATVET) institutions, equipping them to produce highly skilled graduates who can lead Ghana’s shift toward a sustainable and resilient rural economy.
The meeting was attended by distinguished guests including Prof. Dadson Awunyo-Vitor, Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Camilus Abeiwura Wognaa, and Kwadaso Agricultural College Principal Albert Appiah Amoakoh. Their participation underlines the strong commitment and shared vision across institutions for fostering a climate-smart, employability-focused agricultural sector in Ghana.
The project in a nutshell
In the face of a changing climate, Ghana's agricultural sector is facing unprecedented challenges. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers a promising solution to enhance food security and environmental sustainability, but its successful implementation hinges on a skilled workforce capable of operating CSA technologies. The “VET ecosystems for employability in Ghana” project addresses this critical need by strengthening agricultural training and vocational education and training (ATVET) institutions in Ghana to capacitate the agricultural colleges with the necessary skills and knowledge for a thriving CSA sector. The project is funded by the European Union.
This project is managed by Veerle Barten, Project Consultant at MSM’s Expert Centre on Emerging Economies. The project will run from December 2023 until November 2026.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies
This institutional collaboration project is part of MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies. The department is an expert centre on sustainable private sector development in emerging and developing markets. We capacitate managers and professionals from government, private sector, NGOs, and post-secondary education in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. We offer consultancy and customized training programs, and we manage complex projects in key sectors, e.g. water, agriculture and health. For more information click here.
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