German Partner Elektrobildungs- und Technologiezentrum Dresden e.V. (EBZ)

Cameroonian Partners CPF Mbouo-Bandjoun · CAPEF · BERCO INSTITUTE

Current Phase (P1170) Phase 2: 01 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2028

Funding / Coordination BMZ · SEQUA gGmbH, Bonn

Long-Term Expert (on-site) Sipua Ngnoubamdjum · sipua01@gmail.com

Technical Director (EBZ) Prof. Dr. Jürgen Joswig · j.joswig@ebz.de

About the Project

The Vocational Education Partnership (BBP) between the Elektrobildungs- und Technologiezentrum Dresden e.V. (EBZ) and selected vocational training centres in Cameroon aims to establish and sustain high-quality, practice-oriented training in Renewable Energies in Agriculture. The project combines the strengths of the German vocational education and training system with the specific qualification needs of rural communities in Cameroon.

Its core focus is the training of skilled workers for decentralised energy applications, including solar irrigation, biogas production and use, and solar-powered agricultural technology. The project thereby aims to strengthen productivity, income opportunities and climate resilience in Cameroonian agriculture.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and coordinated by SEQUA gGmbH. Sipua Ngnoubamdjum is permanently deployed as Long-Term Expert in Cameroon; technical management on the EBZ side is the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Joswig.

Our Cameroonian Project Partners

Centre Polyvalent de Formation (CPF) Mbouo-Bandjoun

CPF in Mbouo-Bandjoun, located in the Ouest Region, is the central training institution of the partnership. As a multi-purpose vocational training centre, it covers a broad range of practical trades and has long-standing experience in agricultural and technical vocational education. Within the BBP, CPF serves as the main implementation site for curriculum development and pilot training: the work situation analysis (AST) workshop, the curriculum validation workshops and the first pilot implementation of the new training programme 'Specialist in Renewable Energies in Agriculture' all took place here. CPF also operates practical field sites in the western region where learners apply solar irrigation, solar-powered pest control and other agro-energy solutions directly on real farms. It acts as a hub linking vocational education and the private sector in the region.

CAPEF – Chambre d'Agriculture, des Pêches, de l'Élevage et des Forêts du Cameroun

CAPEF is the national chamber for agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry in Cameroon, headquartered in Yaoundé. As a professional umbrella organisation, it operates a nationwide network of affiliated training centres, including the Écoles Pratiques d'Agriculture et de l'Élevage (EPAB), and represents the interests of agricultural enterprises and actors across Cameroon. In the project, CAPEF is a strategic partner for embedding the new occupational profile in the national vocational education landscape and for engaging the private sector. The appointment of the former CAPEF project representative, Dr. Adjelakara, as national training director of the overall organisation opens the prospect of scaling the project's approaches well beyond the Ouest Region into all CAPEF structures nationwide.

BERCO INSTITUTE / Bercotech

BERCO INSTITUTE is a private vocational training institution with close ties to Bercotech, a solar energy company. With sites in Maroua and Garoua in the Grand Nord region as well as in Yaoundé, BERCO INSTITUTE serves as a key bridge between vocational training and business practice. Bercotech is a well-established provider of decentralised solar systems throughout northern Cameroon, giving trainees direct hands-on access to real installations: learners can work on operational systems, carry out maintenance tasks and build contacts within the regional solar economy. The institute connects trainees with farmers, livestock breeders and small enterprises for whom solar-powered irrigation, energy supply and cooling technology are economically relevant.

Thematic Focus Areas

The technical content of the project covers key areas of renewable energies in agriculture: solar irrigation and solar-powered pumping systems, biogas, and solar-powered insect traps and monitoring systems. Electrical safety and maintenance of installations are addressed as cross-cutting topics. The competency-based curriculum combines theoretical foundations with strongly practice-oriented learning units. Training-of-Trainers measures ensure that the knowledge acquired is durably embedded in the partner institutions. Private sector engagement and employment pathways for graduates are also an integral part of the approach.

Current Work and Phase 2 Priorities (2026–2028)

In the ongoing second phase, the focus is on implementation: the validated curriculum 'Specialist in Renewable Energies in Agriculture' is being embedded in the partner institutions, the state homologation process with MINEFOP is being advanced, and systematic training operations are being established. Practical field sites and demonstration centres are being developed as real-world learning environments. Market-oriented components such as maintenance, after-sales service and business fundamentals complement the training offer.

A central focus of the current phase is linking vocational training with the private sector: enterprises are being engaged as learning venues, practical partners and employers for graduates. Internships, company-based co-training and joint assessment formats are designed to facilitate the transition into employment and self-employment.

What We Are Looking For at PROMOTE 2026

At PROMOTE 2026, we present the work of the partnership and are actively seeking network partners. We welcome contacts from vocational training centres and educational institutions interested in adopting the new curriculum or becoming cooperation partners. We equally seek companies and institutions from the agricultural and energy sectors willing to take on trainees for internships, serve as practical training sites or participate in training activities. Our aim is direct networking between trainees and the private sector in Cameroon – for more employment, more entrepreneurship and a more sustainable agriculture.

Contact

Elektrobildungs- und Technologiezentrum Dresden e.V. (EBZ): Prof. Dr. Jürgen Joswig, j.joswig@ebz.de, www.ebz.de

Project Management on-site / Long-Term Expert: Sipua Ngnoubamdjum, sipua01@gmail.com

Coordination: SEQUA gGmbH, Bonn, Germany, www.sequa.de

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).