Specialised and continuing training
Practical training opportunities designed to strengthen technical, digital, environmental and occupational safety skills and respond to changing labour-market needs.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers have a key role to play in preparing learners and workers for the transition towards more circular and resource-efficient economies.
Through CircuWasteVETAfrica, VET providers and a public institution in Angola, Ghana, Namibia and São Tomé and PrÃncipe have developed a portfolio of services designed to respond to local labour-market needs, strengthen practical learning and build stronger links between VET institutions and organisations across the waste value chain.
These Value Added Services translate the knowledge and competences developed through the project into practical, structured and potentially repeatable services that can support green skills development, employment, entrepreneurship and improved waste-management practices.
From local needs to practical services
The services were developed through a participatory process involving VET providers and relevant stakeholders in each country. This approach allowed each VET provider to identify local challenges and opportunities and develop services adapted to its economic, environmental and institutional context.
What services are being developed?
The proposed portfolio includes different types of services, reflecting the priorities and opportunities identified in each country.
Internships and work-based learning
Stronger links between VET institutions and employers to provide learners with practical experience and improve their transition into employment.
Waste valorisation
Initiatives that explore opportunities to transform waste and residues into useful materials, products or economic opportunities.
Circular product development
Support for developing products and solutions based on circular economy principles, including opportunities for innovation and upcycling.
Technical support
Practical knowledge and support for organisations working to improve waste-management practices and environmental performance.
Green entrepreneurship
Initiatives that help learners and other stakeholders identify business opportunities linked to the circular and green economy.
Four countries, different priorities
While common challenges emerged across the four countries, each VET provider developed services responding to its own national context.
Ghana
The proposed services focus on structured internships, industry-linked training, circular product innovation, entrepreneurship and textile upcycling, strengthening connections between VET provision and industry.
Angola
The portfolio focuses on practical waste-management training, environmental education, separation at source and professional integration, supporting both skills development and improved waste-management practices.
São Tomé and PrÃncipe
The proposed services explore the valorisation of fish waste and agro-industrial residues, alongside opportunities for work-based learning and green entrepreneurship.
Namibia
The priorities include continuing professional development, structured internships, environmental compliance, career awareness and anticipation of emerging green skills, helping VET provision respond to changing labour-market needs.
From project results to lasting services
The proposed services are currently at different stages of development. Some already have identified partners, delivery arrangements and expected results, while others require further technical development, stakeholder validation, resource planning or pilot testing. The next step is to prioritise the most feasible and relevant services and establish the conditions needed for their implementation.
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01
Prioritising
Selecting the services with the strongest potential and relevance to local needs.
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02
Building partnerships
Formalising collaboration with companies, public authorities, municipalities and other relevant stakeholders.
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03
Defining implementation models
Clarifying responsibilities, resources, workplace supervision, quality assurance and safety requirements.
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04
Piloting and testing
Testing the services in practice and using the results to refine their delivery models.
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05
Institutionalising
Integrating successful services into the VET providers' regular offer and establishing mechanisms for their long-term sustainability.
Action Plans for implementation
To move from proposed services to concrete implementation, the participating VET providers have developed Action Plans setting out the activities, responsibilities, resources, partnerships, timelines and expected results associated with each VET's implementation process.
Explore the full results
The Added Value Services Compendium provides the complete presentation of the services proposed by the participating VET providers, including the methodology used to identify them, the priorities emerging across the four countries and recommendations for their implementation and sustainability.
Download the Added Value Services Compendium