Ceremony in Mindouli Highlights New Agricultural Skills
In Mindouli, a town on the RN1 corridor, about a hundred small-scale farmers took to the stage to receive certificates from the International Labour Organization and the Integrated Agricultural Value Chains Project, marking the conclusion of ten intensive days dedicated to the ILO’s “Start and Improve Your Business” approach.
The ceremony, presided over by the sub-prefect and the ILO’s national coordinator, resonated beyond the packed municipal hall, symbolizing a quiet yet strategic shift toward skills-based rural entrepreneurship in the Pool department.
Linking Education to Agribusiness Needs
The organizers set a clear goal: to align training with local labor demand so that farmers evolve into entrepreneurs capable of boosting exports, diversifying the Congolese economy, and generating decent jobs—an ambition reflected in the National Development Plan and the emphasis placed on agriculture.
“We taught the methodology for better business management,” explained one trainer, detailing modules on accounting, inventory control, marketing, and customer relations. The program will soon expand to ideation clinics for youth who do not yet have projects but show entrepreneurial appetite.
The certification, according to the ILO, is a passport that validates skills rather than formal titles. In Congo, where nearly two-thirds of rural workers operate in the informal sector, such recognition is increasingly valued by microfinance institutions and produce buyers negotiating supply contracts under regional health standards.
Trainee Voices Reflect Ambition
One participant captured the mood: “These trainings are expensive, so I sincerely thank the organizer. I learned to keep records, manage a business, handle inventory, and market products. I am very happy.” Applause erupted as she presented her new certificate to her family.
Another trainee looked to the future: “We will avoid many mistakes and work professionally to increase production and management capacity, so our businesses can grow from small to large.” His statement summarized the workshop’s focus on growth, rather than maintaining subsistence plots.
Local and Regional Partners Strengthen Deployment
Local authorities seized the momentum. The sub-prefect praised the “visible enthusiasm” of Mindouli’s youth and urged the ILO to replicate the model in other districts, noting that neighboring Pointe-Noire and Kinshasa could absorb surplus cassava, pepper, and fruit if quality improves.
In the background, the AfDB was monitoring the discussions. The bank is financing Prodivac through a sovereign loan signed in 2021. Capacity building is a prerequisite for the rollout of planned equipment lines in 2024.
An agri-processor mobilized the beneficiaries and presented practical cases. Its founder believes graduates will soon be able to supply its drying and packaging units, reducing the company’s dependence on imports of semi-finished pulp.
Government-ILO Roadmap Tracks Impact
For the ILO, the Mindouli pilot marks the first of four cohorts planned under a three-year technical assistance agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. Each cohort will be supported by sector coaches and tracked via quarterly dashboards measuring sales, record-keeping, and job creation.
Congolese authorities view this approach as complementary to national agropoles, where mechanization is prioritized. By strengthening managerial culture at the grassroots, policymakers hope to ensure a steady flow of capable suppliers to feed large hubs and meet the phytosanitary standards required by CEMAC partners.
Analysts note the timing coincides with recent data from the National Statistics Institute showing agriculture accounted for 9.8% of GDP in 2022, up from 7.6% five years earlier, signaling momentum for diversification efforts despite global headwinds affecting oil revenues.
Upcoming Challenges and Financing Solutions
Challenges persist, however: degraded access roads, limited cold storage, and fluctuating fertilizer costs threaten margins. The ILO training does not claim to solve infrastructure gaps, but by equipping producers with cost-accounting tools, it enables them to make stronger demands in value chain negotiations.
In the short term, graduates will benefit from mentoring by regional labor inspectors, a mechanism described as “proximity methodological support.” Inspectors, often seen as regulators, will now act as business advisors, fostering a climate of compliance and growth.
By 2025, Prodivac plans to integrate digital record-keeping via mobile applications developed by Congolese startups. A pilot version is being tested in Kinkala, allowing farmers to digitize input invoices and track cash flow—data lenders can verify before approving seasonal credit.
Economists at Marien Ngouabi University stress that sustainable results depend on credit. They cite past programs where farmers were trained but lacked working capital. The Agricultural Bank of Congo indicates it is exploring a concessional window for Prodivac graduates with grace periods.