Enhancing skills and competences of local actors to promote sustainable development of plant-based remedies and phytomedicines in Benin

ongoing

This 3-year capacity building project involves University of Helsinki (FI), San Jorge University (ES), and 3 Partner HEIs in Benin: University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), National University of Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM) and University of Parakou (UP). World Health Organization recognizes phytomedicine as a vehicle for access to medication and health promotion and urges governments to integrate it into national healthcare policies. However, in most sub-Saharan countries the work remains in an embryonic stage: very few improved traditional medicines resulting from scientific research are developed and authorized, and higher education on phytomedicine or phytopharmacy is practically nonexisting. This project aims to strengthen the training and research structures enabling the development of phytomedicines in an integrated and sustainable way in Benin. This will be achieved by upskilling 30 teachers and researchers for research methods as well as pedagogical and teaching technology competence, improving local infrastructure by setting up national reference laboratory for medicinal plant research and establishing an advanced training programme dedicated to phytomedicine and phytopharmacy, educating 30 students during the project lifetime. To promote an inclusive and integrated approach, we will also invest in establishing cooperation between academic staff and traditional medicine practitioners and offer training to 240 traditional healers. To achieve this, a mobility program involving both virtual and physical mobility of academic staff will be set up towards UH and USJ, to reinforce the capacities of Beninese teachers and researchers. Supported by the European colleagues, the trained Beninese human resources will take a leading role in implementing the new training program and cooperating with traditional healers. As The outcome, reinforced academic staff, trained experts and the new infrastructure enable a sustainable impact.