Cashew nut project

The agricultural sector is the largest employer of labor (48%) in Nigeria and on average contributes 25% to the national gross domestic product (GDP).. Especially the cashew sub-sector offers enormous potential for employment creation and income generation, as cashew is the second largest export commodity from Nigeria. Despite its high economic and social development potential, capacity-building efforts have not yet properly addressed the cashew production and processing segments of the value chain, resulting in low yields, poor quality and underutilized processing capacities.

To address sector challenges and skills gaps, the VET Toolbox launched a training program for the private sector to strengthen their capacities in delivering trainings and developing structured curricular and training approaches for cashew farmers and factory workers.

To professionalize and formalize jobs in the agricultural sector by providing training programs to improve the technical and business skills of cashew farmers and factory workers.

• Skill development: Training in-house trainers and developing training approaches that can be rolled out in different companies operating in the cashew production and processing segment.
• Enhancement of global competitiveness: Creating highly skilled cashew farmers and processing staff will improve the competitiveness of Nigeria in the regional and global cashew arena.
• Establishment of working groups/roundtable for the cashew sector. Bringing relevant public and private actors along the cashew value chain together to openly discuss sector challenges, needs and potentials, creating a forum to share their experience and stories, as well as collating lessons learnt and recommendations to government.
• Upscaling Opportunities: Improving agricultural training delivery through flexible training approaches, thereby ensuring sustainability, and offering upscaling opportunities to other regions and businesses.
• Improvement of employment situation and job security: Promoting the local cashew industry, boosting ajob security and stable incomes above minimum wage.

In partnership with Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN), 500 beneficiaries will receive practical workplace-based trainings.

The activities are:

• A Training of Trainers (ToT) implemented by cashew sector experts.
• Development of a standard training approach and concept on production and processing that can be adapted to various company contexts.
• The establishment of a working group / roundtable / association that discusses advocates for policy on selected topics relevant to cashew actors and VET space.

As a result of this project, 500 people will be upskilled to secure jobs and basic contracts.

• 500 people trained in the production and processing segments.
• 1 processors association with enhanced advocacy capacity.
• 2 new training programs on cashew production and processing developed for public use.
• 1 ToT for Master Trainers leading to up to 25 master trainers in Nigeria.