Apprenticeship in Benin

Benin has no single apprenticeship system. Traditional apprentissage takes place mainly in an atelier under a maître artisan and is strongly practical, while dual programmes combine an enterprise or workshop with a vocational centre or school. Formal providers include LTP, CET, CETA, CFP, CFPA and private accredited centres. Non-formal programmes include FODEFCA, ProDIJ and AnpE initiatives, Azoli or company internships, short courses of about one to three months, and recognition of prior experience through Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) or VAP. These programmes do not offer the same legal status, coverage or certificate. Training covers sectors such as food processing and catering, construction, mechanics and electricity, transport, wood and furniture, textiles and leather, audiovisual and communication services, personal care, and artistic crafts. National priorities include construction, agro-processing, tourism and hospitality, digital work, renewable energy, water and sanitation, but the available occupations depend on regional demand and the centres operating there. Entry requirements depend on the programme. A dual apprenticeship normally uses a written contract and the basic decree sets a minimum age of 14, together with a métier-specific education level; a preparation course may help applicants who lack that level. For the 2026 public CFPA intake, applicants must be at least 14 years old by 31 December 2026, show motivation and apply between 17 August and 25 September 2026 for the 28 September start. Public CFPA applications require a form, a birth certificate or equivalent and a 1,000 CFA dossier receipt. CQP programmes generally target people who have left school and may require the CEP plus completion of at least 4ème or another programme-specific level, followed by a selection test. Admission is not automatic: a ProDIJ selection in 2023 had 14,007 candidates for 2,000 subsidised places across ten occupations. Duration depends on the occupation and the approved competency matrix. Apprenticeship programmes listed through apprenticeship and CMA channels often last about 24 to 48 months, while CFPA and ProDIJ CQP programmes commonly last two to three years. An apprenticeship employment contract can last up to four years under the Labour Code. Longer programmes may include an intermediate assessment. The workshop usually provides most practical learning, while the centre adds theory, technology and structured instruction. A dual apprenticeship requires written agreements between the enterprise or maître artisan and the apprentice, between the enterprise or maître artisan, the apprentice and the centre, and cooperation between the centre and the enterprise. The contract is prepared in four copies, written in the official language, submitted for a labour-authority visa and includes the occupation, duration, training arrangements and, for minors, parent or tutor information. The apprentice must attend, follow instructions and complete training work; the maître artisan must provide complete and methodical occupational training. Labour and social protection rules apply to apprentices, and public awareness work in 2024 addressed minimum age, written contracts, physical punishment and economic exploitation. Local enforcement involves labour services, GUPS and police, but protection and training quality are not uniform everywhere. The CQM, or Certificat de Qualification aux Métiers, is a state-recognised end-of-apprenticeship diploma for craft occupations. Its examination uses an oral discussion of occupational knowledge and a practical situation, and sessions are held twice a year through cooperation between CMA-Bénin and DEC. The CQP, or Certificat de Qualification Professionnelle, assesses professional, technological and general competencies through written or theoretical and practical examinations and can support employment, self-employment or further technical and vocational education. AQP and VAE can recognise professionally acquired skills, but their availability depends on the occupation and programme. Current age rules require care: the 2026 CFPA intake states 14 as the minimum application age, a 2023 CQM rule states 17 for the examination, and an older 2010 decree stated 16. Applicants should therefore follow the current notice for the chosen occupation and session. Public budgets support training, while FODEFCA is financed through a levy on formal enterprises and state contributions. A historical ILO reference reported support covering up to about 90 percent of centre costs for a subsidised CQP, but this is not a general current promise of free training. The 2026 CFPA dossier fee is 1,000 CFA, and examination, equipment, materials and other charges vary by occupation and programme. No general guarantee covers wages, scholarships, employment or completion. Informal apprenticeship remains highly significant: an ILO estimate from 2021 counted more than 300,000 informal apprentices compared with about 50,000 TVET learners, while only around 5 percent of secondary-school-age young people were estimated to be in TVET. These figures are historical indicators rather than a current national census.