ILO Supports Validation of the Internal Diagnostic Study of the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA) to Strengthen...

ILO Supports Validation of the Internal Diagnostic Study of the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA) to Strengthen Skills Development and Institutional Performance in Mali

Through the ILO Global Skills Programme (GSP), the International Labour Organization (ILO) supported the conduct and validation of an internal diagnostic study of the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA) covering the period 2010-2023. The study provides a strategic roadmap for strengthening the institution's capacity to deliver labour market-responsive skills development and contribute to employment, productivity and decent work in Mali.

28 July 2026

BAMAKO (ILO News) - After two decades of supporting Mali's national vocational training system, the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA) has embarked on a far-reaching institutional reform process. On 30 June and 1 July 2026, more than 80 representatives from public institutions, the private sector and employers' and workers' organisations gathered at the Azalaï Hotel in Bamako to review the findings of the internal diagnostic study covering the period 2010-2023 and agreed on strategic priorities for strengthening the institution.

A participant takes part in the validation workshop of the internal diagnostic study of the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA) in Bamako.

The validation workshop marked a significant milestone in FAFPA's institutional development. Conducted with technical and financial support from the ILO, the diagnostic study provides a comprehensive assessment of the institution's governance, operational performance, financing mechanisms, partnerships and contribution to skills development over the past thirteen years.

The workshop followed two dissemination workshops on FAFPA's 2025-2029 Strategic Development Plan, held in May 2026, which brought together more than 150 participants. Together, these initiatives chart the course for an institutional reform process whose necessity has, for the first time, become the subject of broad, evidence-based consensus among stakeholders.

A frank and comprehensive diagnosis

The study was commissioned to conduct an in-depth analysis of FAFPA's governance, organisational structure and financial situation. Its findings are unequivocal: the institution is facing a multifaceted structural crisis, reflected in several key performance indicators.

According to the study, the number of beneficiaries supported through FAFPA's Informal Economy Division declined from 12,951 in 2015 to just 661 in 2023, representing a 92 per cent decrease. Similarly, dual apprenticeship programmes, which reached a peak of 5,761 beneficiaries in 2015, had ceased entirely by 2019.

The study also found that the Vocational Training Levy financed 83 per cent of training activities during the period under review. Following its replacement by a government subsidy, FAFPA's overall budget fell from CFAF 9.5 billion in 2015 to CFAF 2.8 billion in 2022.

The report concludes that FAFPA's current economic model is no longer sustainable. Survey findings attribute 69 per cent of the institution's challenges to governance issues, 17 per cent to weaknesses in institutional vision, and 12 per cent to the financing model. Furthermore, 68 per cent of managers interviewed considered the legislative framework, based on founding legal instruments adopted in 1997, to be no longer suited to the country's current socioeconomic context.

At the same time, the diagnostic identifies several important institutional strengths on which the reform process can build, including FAFPA's recognised national legitimacy, its network of regional offices, its experienced technical staff and its continuing relevance in a labour market that welcomes more than 300,000 new entrants each year.

Reform through shared responsibility

The opening ceremony was chaired by Mahamadoun Sarre, Chief of Staff to the Minister of National Entrepreneurship, Employment and Vocational Training, alongside Sidi Danioko, Chairperson of FAFPA's Board of Directors and Vice-President of the National Employers' Council of Mali (CNPM), and Alhatikou Dagamaissa, National Coordinator of the ILO Global Skills Programme in Mali.

In its opening remarks, the ILO highlighted three strategic priorities emerging from the study: clarifying governance arrangements between the supervising ministry, the Board of Directors and the Directorate General; diversifying and securing sustainable financing, including consideration of restoring an enterprise-based contribution in line with the ILO Recommendation No. 208 on Quality Apprenticeships; and strengthening the quality of training provision through better alignment with labour market intelligence generated by the National Observatory for Employment and Training.

The Chief of Staff paid tribute to two FAFPA officials who had recently passed away-Dr Soufiana Maïga, Adviser to the Director General, and Tounko Traoré, Expert to the Directorate General-whose commitment had made a significant contribution to the completion of the study. He described the workshop as a decisive step towards concrete institutional reforms supported by clear implementation and monitoring indicators.

Participants attend the presentation of the findings of the internal diagnostic study of the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA) in Bamako.

Technical discussions were organised in two phases. A plenary session presented the draft diagnostic report, followed by thematic working groups focusing on governance, vocational training financing, and the quality of training provision. Participants discussed issues including the balance of responsibilities between the supervisory ministry and the Board of Directors, the sustainability of the government subsidy as the principal financing mechanism, the adequacy of the legislative framework, and the absence of a post-training monitoring system.

A roadmap adopted by consensus

At the conclusion of the two-day workshop, participants validated the internal diagnostic report and adopted a series of recommendations addressing the three strategic priority areas:

• Governance, they recommended establishing a formal consultation mechanism among stakeholders, strengthening the capacity of Board members through training on their roles and responsibilities, revising FAFPA's legislative and regulatory framework, and creating a coordination mechanism with the National Employment Agency and the National Institute for Training and Professional Development.
• Financing: participants called for diversification of funding sources, advocacy with public authorities and the private sector to secure sustainable financing, consolidation of vocational training funds under FAFPA's management, and the promotion of a stronger training culture within enterprises.
• Training quality: recommendations included revitalising the dual apprenticeship system, reviewing and updating occupational and training standards, and establishing a beneficiary database supported by a post-training tracking system to monitor employment outcomes.

The formal validation of the study's findings and recommendations will guide FAFPA's future strategic planning and institutional reform agenda. The validated diagnostic is expected to serve as an operational roadmap for modernising the institution and strengthening its contribution to skills development, enterprise competitiveness and job creation in Mali.

The ILO reaffirms its commitment to Mali

Drawing on its international experience, the ILO emphasised that institutional diagnostics are essential tools for continuous improvement. By providing evidence-based assessments of organisational performance, they enable institutions to identify strengths, address operational challenges and implement strategic reforms that enhance efficiency, accountability and service delivery.

In his closing remarks, Alhatikou Dagamaissa commended the quality of the discussions and reaffirmed the ILO's commitment to continuing and strengthening its technical support for the implementation of the study's recommendations. Alassane Touré, Director General of FAFPA, officially closed the workshop, highlighting the constructive and collaborative spirit that characterised the discussions and thanking all participants for their active engagement throughout the process.