Sub-Saharan Africa - Mali
The “Skills for Employment in the Kéniéba Circle (AFECK)” project was a four-year, CAD 7.0M initiative (2016-2020) undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The initiative, in partnership with the Canadian mining company, B2Gold, sought to ensure that communities near the Fekola mine, and in the Kéniéba region, are able to increase their earning potential through job skills and entrepreneurship programs. The project is consistent with strategies of the agency and Government of Mali, and fits into the context of developing national governance policies for vocational and technical training. A new vocational training center was built in Kénébia and provides specific programs in photovoltaic electricty, civl works, agricultural processing, catering and auto mechanics. The project included a capacity development component, consisting of vocational and technical training of the local workforce and support for entrepreneurs for the extractive industry; and an institutional component which strengthened Mali’s national and regional organizations involved in matching training to employment.
