Improving the sustainability of production systems by enhancing the teaching skills of experienced trainers. A recent example from Senegal

In January 2025, COLEAD organised a training session in Dakar as part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme. The aim of this initiative was to strengthen the teaching skills of expert trainers to better communicate key messages on hygiene, traceability and safe use of plant protection products to horticultural businesses.

As part of a regional capacity-building initiative, this session targeted 16 experts from West and Central Africa who had previously been trained in ‘training and communication techniques’ and responded to a request from Senegalese companies for post-training support on good hygiene practices.

An educational and highly practical programme

The training enabled participants to:

• Master the structuring and delivery of educational presentations to effectively communicate complex technical messages;
• Prepare and lead training sessions using active teaching methods and group management techniques;
• Use innovative tools to optimize learning outcomes.

The session included practical workshops in which participants simulated short training modules. Each simulation was followed by group debriefing to identify strengths and areas for improvement for each expert trainer.

Strong commitment and promising results

The experts from Senegal and Guinea played an active role in the training. They demonstrated an excellent ability to adapt to the teaching techniques taught, demonstrating the potential impact of this initiative on local capacity.

This kind of support from COLEAD, here in Senegal, is a crucial step in promoting good agricultural practices to improve the sustainability of production systems and meet the demands of local and international markets.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.