About the project

Bridging Skills and Opportunities in Agriculture

A-TVET Connect Ghana

The A-TVET Connect Ghana (ATCG) project, funded under the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, is tackling one of Ghana’s pressing challenges — the mismatch between the skills of Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) graduates and the labour demands of the agribusiness sector. Many agricultural college graduates face unemployment, while agribusinesses struggle to find workers with the right practical skills. The ATCG project addresses this by strengthening the link between training institutions and the job market, ensuring that agricultural education leads to employability, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth. At the centre of the initiative is the establishment of an Employment and Incubation Centre (EIC) at Kwadaso Agricultural College (KAC) and Adidome Farm Institute (ADFI). This centre will operate both physically and digitally, providing career guidance, job placement, start-up incubation, and entrepreneurship coaching. A dedicated digital platform will further connect graduates, jobseekers, and agro-SMEs, enabling employers to access skilled workers while providing graduates with real opportunities. Special focus is given to women, vulnerable, and marginalized youth, who often face additional barriers to education and employment. Tailor-made programmes such as a 2–3-week ATVET Entry Course and a Job-Readiness/Start-up Accelerator will prepare them either for further training or for immediate self-employment in agribusiness.

Implementing Partners and Roles

• CINOP B.V. (Netherlands) – Lead coordinator, responsible for project management, quality assurance, training-of-trainers, and overall technical guidance. • Kwadaso Agricultural College (KAC, Ghana) – Co-host of the EIC; leads training, career guidance, and incubation services for graduates. • Adidome Farm Institute (ADFI, Ghana) – Co-host of the EIC; focuses on entry-level training and programmes for marginalized and female youth. • Bunash Enterprise & Farms (Ghana) – Private-sector partner providing internships, placements, industry mentoring, and agribusiness market linkages. • CINOP Ghana (Ghana) – Local support office managing on-the-ground implementation, facilitation, ICT/digital platform support, and gender mainstreaming. • Nationaal Agrarisch Centrum (NAC, Belgium) – Technical partner offering agricultural training expertise, demonstration of best practices, and trainer exchanges. • Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Ghana) – Knowledge partner supporting curriculum development, incubation services, and accreditation linkages.

Expected Impact

• For youth: smoother school-to-work transitions, stronger entrepreneurial support, and greater job opportunities. • For agro-SMEs: access to a skilled labour pool and improved business development services. • For ATVET institutions: enhanced industry linkages, modernized curricula, and improved institutional reputation. • For the agricultural sector: a more productive, inclusive, and innovative workforce that advances food security and rural development. The ATCG project contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). It also supports Ghana’s national priorities in agriculture, skills development, and youth employment, while aligning with EU strategies on education, gender equality, and social inclusion. Through this strong consortium of Ghanaian and European partners, ATCG is building lasting opportunities for young people, women, and agribusinesses, setting a model for skills development and labour market alignment in Ghana and beyond.