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The Benin government has made the professionalisation of craftspeople one of its priorities, illustrating its determination to leverage the craft sector for national economic development. The main challenges facing the sector are: access to finance, training and skills development, market access, recognition and appreciation, as well as modernisation and innovation.
With the support of the State and partners such as the Swiss Cooperation, the Benin Chamber of Crafts and Trades (CMA-Benin), under the supervision of the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Employment Promotion, organised the 2024 the awareness day Journée de I ‘Artisan Béninois (JAB. From 19 to 22 July 2024, the event showcased craftmanship and talent throughout the country.
The 'Day of the Beninese Artisan' was part of the support for the private sector's involvement in apprenticeship training schemes, in line with the objectives of the FoRCE programme. Local artists and were able to showcases their skills. The event aimed at highlighting the essential role played by craftspeople in the country's economic and social development, underlining Benin's efforts to ensure the sustainable development of the craft industry.
The general public had the opportunity to discover a wide range of actors in the craft sector, including individual craftspeople, workshops, craft companies and cooperatives, professional associations, trainers and training centres, suppliers of equipment, as well as distributors and retailers.
The 72-hour exhibition, held at Place du Souvenir in Cotonou, celebrated the creativity and innovation of Benin's craftspeople. The event included a competition to reward the best crafts, as well as a mini-exhibition showcasing the winning creations from 4 of the 8 craft industries in Benin. Out of 207 entries received, the jury selected 16 nominees, with one winner in each category.
The representative of the Minister of Social Affairs and Microfinance presents a cheque to the winner of the category Metals, Metal Constructions, Mechanics and Electromechanics: Gisèle Alotognon Abah.
The winners were honoured with a trophy and a cash prize of CHF 2,500 each. The runners-up in each category received CHF 1166. In addition, all 16 nominees received a certificate in recognition of their participation.
The Minister announced a number of measures aimed at strengthening support for the craft sector:
Swisscontact, which contributed to the event through the FoRCE programme, welcomes initiatives like these to help improve the living conditions of craftspeople, improve apprenticeships and strengthen the crafts sector.
Switzerland is the Beninese government's preferred partner for supporting the craft industry. In this respect, the Head of Cooperation at the Cotonou Office emphasised the importance of craftsmanship, particularly women's craftsmanship, as an economic and cultural pillar.
Since 2022, this sector has been supported by the FoRCE programme, financed by Swiss Cooperation and implemented by the Agence de Développement de l'Enseignement Technique with the support of Swisscontact. It aims to reduce unemployment by improving the quality of apprenticeship-based vocational training and meeting the needs of a booming economy. The prizes awarded are a mark of recognition for these dedicated craftspeople.
The Day of the Beninese Artisan provided a space for networking to encourage partnerships with suppliers, support institutions and other like-minded craftspeople. Craftspeople received the recognition for the value of their trade.
The programme FoRCE (Formation Professionnelle et Renforcement de Capacités pour l'Emploi - Vocational Education for the Labour Market) is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Swisscontact.