Under the FFM+ programme, COLEAD is developing a series of three manuals designed to strengthen the quality of its capacity-building work. The first — on the design of training materials — has just been published in English; the next two, on training schemes and training methods, are in preparation.
Training lies at the heart of COLEAD's work: strengthening the skills of agri-food stakeholders is essential to improving their competitiveness and market access over the long term. This commitment to quality is recognised through ISO 21001 certification, the international standard for management systems of education and training providers. To ensure consistency across its activities — collective or individual, in person or remote — COLEAD relies on a structured approach to training design. It is within this framework that a new collection of three complementary manuals has been developed, designed to support teams throughout the training design cycle.
The first manual: designing quality materials
The first manual, "Designing and Developing Training Materials", is available now in English. It supports trainers in creating teaching materials that are clear, engaging, inclusive and tailored to learners' needs. Beyond the underlying principles, it offers practical tools to produce effective visual materials (presentations, infographics, guides), write clear and well-structured content, incorporate digital technologies and artificial intelligence into resource design, and encourage active, lasting learning. Illustrated with examples drawn from COLEAD projects, it shows how quality materials contribute directly to skills acquisition and improved performance in the field.
Two more manuals to come
The collection is aimed at training officers, coordinators, instructional designers and Skills & Careers managers. The second manual, on training schemes (currently being laid out), guides training professionals in designing a continuing-training offer, from identifying needs through to evaluating its impact: analysing and prioritising skills needs, setting learning objectives, choosing learning formats and measuring outcomes. The third, on training methods (written and awaiting layout), focuses on the teaching approaches best suited to each audience and setting — in person, remote or hybrid — to encourage active learning, improve retention and strengthen learner engagement.
Tools within a wider system
These manuals are not standalone resources: they are building blocks of an integrated, coherent training system. In practice, they are used as part of specific action plans, defined together with the partners benefiting from COLEAD's programmes, and they come into their own when combined with the coaching, methods and schemes that structure the training offer. It is this overall approach — rather than the manuals taken in isolation — that ensures the quality and impact of training on the ground.
A resource soon to reach further
Together, these three manuals will cover the three essential dimensions of training design: designing a scheme, choosing the right teaching methods and producing quality materials. A French translation of the first manual is planned by the end of the year, to open up this new resource to a wider audience.
This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.