Often, companies fill skilled vacancies by recruiting from abroad. Our UK aid-funded skills for employment programme (S4E), known locally as JOBA, aims to increase the employment and income prospects for marginalised youth in Mozambique, particularly young women. It provides them with access to non-state, quality training, and practical support to improve employment chances. We do this through grants to training providers and private enterprises, to deliver skills development interventions closely linked to specific types of employment.
More than half of those completing their six-month internships with Beluluane Industrial Park, a company managing an industrial area outside Maputo, are now employed, while JOBA is backing Maputo-based bicycle manufacturer to train mechanics, so they can establish small businesses across the country. Meanwhile a partnership in Beira is piloting the first apprenticeship in truck mechanics in Mozambique. In 2018-2019, grants to training providers provided 2834 young people with access to training, leading to better employment opportunities.