As a committed member of EfVET’s Global VET Thematic Team, Mundus proudly coordinates Smart Step, a three-year Erasmus+ Capacity Building in VET (CBVET) project that is now entering its final phase. Launched in 2023 as part of the first round of Erasmus+ CBVET projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, Smart Step is enhancing the role of VET schools in Ghana and Cameroon by fostering a culture of smart entrepreneurship.
The project has successfully completed its Training of Trainers (ToTs) sessions in both countries. Held in May and June 2025 in Ashaiman (Ghana) and Yaoundé (Cameroon) respectively, the sessions brought together more than 30 participants in each location, including young entrepreneurs, VET teachers, business leaders, and government representatives. The training was delivered by entrepreneurship experts from Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and practitioners from CEA-PME, combining academic expertise with real-world business experience. A Handbook called “The Smart Step Journey” in English and French has been created to help participants implement the knowledge they acquired during the ToTs in their classrooms and businesses.
One of the project’s flagship achievements is the launch of the Smart Step Online Platform, an innovative online space that offers over 20 learning modules and creates a vibrant community of African entrepreneurs, mentors, and VET professionals. The platform supports career pathways in entrepreneurship, logistics, and green waste management, tailored to the African context.
Looking ahead, participating VET schools in Ghana and Cameroon will establish entrepreneurial incubators and continue to train teachers and mentors to promote project-based learning and business creation among their students. The final transnational meeting will take place in Zaragoza, Spain, from December 2 to 4, 2025, where partners will celebrate results and develop a sustainability plan to extend Smart Step’s impact beyond the project’s lifetime.
Smart Step is a shining example of how European-African cooperation in VET can drive innovation, empower youth, and strengthen ecosystems for sustainable entrepreneurship.
- ➡️ Discover more: www.smartstepproject.com
- Smart Step Platform: https://smartstep-community.com/en/
- The Smart Step journey in English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O5VXVFH317Z_dbhhyz1loZE306fBHFEA/view?usp=drive_link
- The Smart Step Journey in French: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VKHGw82rh2zWpkEeBS8vm_fu_NQFzFFx/view?usp=drive_link
Author of the article: Sergio Lagarde (Coordinator of Mundus Action in Africa) and Enrique Romeo (Project Manager) – Mundus