BMB Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the Department for International Development (DfID) on the Skills for Employment (S4E) programme in Mozambique. The programme will aim to aid the creation of sustainable jobs and improve income prospects for the country’s population by improving standards in Mozambique’s labour market.
Mozambique has one of the highest levels of sustained economic growth in Africa. However this growth has been restricted by a lack of adequate technical and vocational skills in the local labour market. This has led to skilled labour often being imported from abroad. S4E is targeted at improving the local market by overcoming the mismatch between the supply and demand of labour. It also aims to build constructive partnerships between non-state technical and vocational education and training (TVET) providers, the private sector, job centres and the Mozambican government, supporting an inclusive approach to job creation.
As service provider for the programme, BMB Mott MacDonald will be responsible for managing a £10 million employment fund aimed at brokering agreements between non-state TVET service providers and the private sector. This fund will be used to support the development of a more robust labour market and better prepared work force that is ready to meet the demands of the modern Mozambican economy. The consultancy will also carry out technical and financial assessments of potential grantees, effectively distribute grants and report on successful applicants. Additionally, BMB Mott MacDonald will design and implement a management information system, monitoring and evaluation framework and communications strategy for the wider S4E programme and oversee the provision of resources.
Geert van Boekel, BMB Mott MacDonald’s project director, said: “This project will make a real difference to the lives of people living in Mozambique. By meeting the needs of the private sector we will be able to support the development of a modern labour market in the country, with a particular focus on both young people and women.”
The S4E programme is expected to run until spring 2021.