7th African employers counsellors training opens in Yaounde.

It is being organised by the National Employment Fund, NEF, in partnership World Association of Public Employment Services, WAPES, and the African Association of Public Employment Services, AAPES.

Participants are experts, trainers, and employment officials from 15 African countries. The training officials said, will run for two weeks. The Secretary General in the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, Forchap Esandem Prudence, opened the training.

Also present was the Director General of the NEF, Camille Moute à Bidias; the President of AASEP, Ibrahim Ag Nock; and the Director of the Chadian public employment service mostly known by its  French language appellation  Office National pour la Promotion de l'Emploi, ONAPE, Nassouradine Abakar Kessou.

It is taking place under the theme: “The Employment Counselor: understanding the labour market for better job placement strategies”.

According to Forchap, the training is a demonstration of the commitment of states to invest in sustainable human capital development. Public employment services, she said, need to adapt to the changing labour market.

The ongoing training, the official said, seeks to strengthen the operational capacities of counselors who serve as crucial intermediaries between job seekers and employers.

“By equipping them with improved skills and knowledge, governments hope to boost job placements, reduce unemployment particularly among young people, women and promote inclusive growth,” she said.

Fonchap said training aligns with government’s four pillars to create decent and sustainable jobs as advanced by the Head of State, Paul Biya.

Hails organisers of the training 

Forchap saluted organisers of the training for what she said is a demonstration of leadership that significantly strengthened Africa’s visibility within global employment networks.

The employment ministry scribe also challenged participants to use the training to acquire skills and knowledge that will benefit their institutions and countries.

NEF partners ONAPE 

One of the key highlights of the opening ceremony was the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between NEF and ONAPE.

According to the Technical Adviser of ONAPE, Jean Pierre Djimasngar, through the MoU, both institutions seek to share expertise and develop innovative solutions to combat unemployment The MoU will last five years.

 NEF DG, Moute à Bidias said the renewal of the MoU will help the two institutions to share experience to better respond to the changes of the job market.

 “…we have understood that to create jobs in any country, you have to create activities…,” said.

ONAPE Director, Abakar Kessou, on his part noted that the imbalance between training and the needs of the market, the MoU is to further federate forces.

He underscored that “no institution can overcome these challenges alone,’ adding that “…sharing of experiences” is essential, “to build lasting solutions”.

Chad and Cameron, Abakar told reporters, share a common destiny which makes such deals invaluable. He linked the renewing of the MoU to sub regional integration efforts.

With such partnerships, “…we contribute to making Central Africa a space for exchange, complementarity, and shared prosperity”.

The agreement, he added defines the general rules and regulations of collaboration between the institutions in order to increase decent employment opportunities, enhance human capital, and strengthen the capacities of employment actors in the respective countries.

In the coming months, Abakar said actions will be taken to match the outline of the MoU “…in the fields of employment, vocational training, and entrepreneurship”.

 This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3560 of Wednesday September 10, 2025