Launching Xllence4LeatherAfric: A Project to Promote Sustainability in Africa’s Leather Industry
The European project Xllence4LeatherAfric kicks off in Lisbon, an initiative funded by the Erasmus+ programme aimed at transforming the leather industry in Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia through training and sustainability. Coordinated by the Centro Tecnológico das Indústrias do Couro (CTIC) in Portugal, the project brings together eight partners from Europe and Africa: CRETHIDEV (Greece), Inescop (Spain), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (Tanzania), Kyambogo University (Uganda), Ege University (Turkey), Uganda Leather and Allied Industries Association (Uganda) and Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia).
During the 12th and 13th of March, the partners of the Erasmus+ Xllence4LeatherAfric project gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, for the official kick-off meeting. The project’s main objective is to enhance vocational training in the leather sector by establishing two Centres of Excellence in Uganda and Tanzania. These centres will provide training in sustainable production techniques, waste management, and digitalisation.
In addition, a comprehensive capacity-building programme will be developed to strengthen the skills of workers, educators and students, including opportunities for African experts to participate in a mobility action in Europe.
By the end of the three-year implementation period, the project aims to contribute to the professionalisation of the sector, the modernisation of production processes, and the improvement of employability within the leather industry in the three countries.
Inescop, Leading the Training of African Educators
As a leading technological center, Inescop will play a key role in the development of training content and the training of African experts. Its expertise in sustainability applied to materials and in the implementation of new technologies will be essential for transferring knowledge to the Centres of Excellence. In addition, Inescop will be responsible for coordinating training activities in Europe and ensuring that training programmes aligns with the sector’s needs, facilitating the integration of innovative and sustainable practices in the leather industry in Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
During the meeting in Lisbon, the consortium partners established a roadmap for the implementation of the project, defining the first training actions for local experts in Europe before replicating the knowledge in their respective countries. They also laid the groundwork for establishing the Centres of Excellence, with the first steps for the acquisition of the equipment required.
With this meeting, Xllence4LeatherAfric begins its journey with a strong commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of Africa’s leather sector through innovation and sustainability. In the coming months, the consortium will move forward with the implementation of the capacity-building plan and the launch of the Centres of Excellence, consolidating a model of international cooperation that strengthens ties between Europe and Africa in education and industrial development.