This publication attempts to map out the dynamics of private training provision in sub-Saharan Africa and to discuss the policy implications for governments. It does not provide final conclusions, since this is an area which still deserves further investigation and empirical evidence. However, it offers a unique vision of private provision in the region, particularly in Mali and Senegal, and suggests ways to improve regulation and copnsistency between public and private delivery. As such, it contributes usefully to a complex and vibrant debate on future strategies for skills formation.