MAPs ACE - Medicinal and Aromatic PlantS ACademy for female Entrepreneurs in Africa

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) produce secondary metabolites, including as essential oils (MAPs/EOs). Most of the exotic MAPs/EOs are produced from rare crops and plants around the world which are either difficult to harvest or are already overharvested endangered species in nature. Environment protection, restrictions on harvesting and cultivation of such trees & plants will probably further add to the raw material scarcity.Sourcing MAPs (by either collection or cultivation) is important for providing employments and fair income for women’s population in low income countries and can be regarded as an important contribution to livelihoods. The Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Academy for female Entrepreneurs in Africa project will help to build the capacities and improve the quality of VET providers in Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, South Africa and Mauritius) through innovative methods and digitization.MAPs ACE project is a joint initiative of VET providers from EU countries (Hungary, Slovakia) to aimed at building the capacities with relevant partners from Africa (Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa) in order to provide a training and support path for female entrepreneurs in the field of cultivation, harvesting and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants. It will merge work-based learning at the Experimental fields in Africa with lectures and training:professional development and, entrepreneurship skills development will be linked with potential partnership in Europe (mobilities of Female entrepreneurs to EU) with a focus on innovation in VET, in the field of MAP cultivation, harvesting and processing with the involvement of digitisation (e-learning, online monitoring). Through a sustainable and environment friendly approach leading to the transition to conventional/traditional production, the project is expected to contribute to the implementation of climate mitigation goals.