Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the German International Development Cooperation to implement the Work Readiness programme in the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. The programme will aim to facilitate the creation of sustainable jobs and improve income generation for young people.
Cabo Delgado has one of the highest unemployment rates in Mozambique. However, there is an increasing demand for skilled labour in the on and offshore gas industries due to ongoing exploration of one of the major offshore reservoirs on the east coast of Africa. The province therefore faces the challenge of how to utilise and adapt existing skills in the country’s labour market to meet this demand, while also making sure that new labour market entrants have the skills and competencies required by employers. Additionally, there is a further aim to help young people and women take advantage of these new opportunities.
The Work Readiness programme will train a minimum of 1,000 young people, both high school graduates and those who did not complete their education, in becoming competent for entry level employment in the oil and gas sector. At least 35% of these trainees will be women while 40% will be under the age of 25. Mott MacDonald will assist in this process by setting up an outreach campaign, targeting potential candidates through the use of both social and broadcast media, as well as community visits. The consultancy will then select the most proficient candidates who will be trained in technical and life skills by consortium partner Capital Africa, one of Africa’s largest professional training institutes.
Geert van Boekel, Mott MacDonald’s country coordinator for international development services in Mozambique, said: “This project is yet another example of our capacity and competitive edge in skills development and technical and vocational education and training. The success of our earlier Skills for Employment project in Mozambique was key in securing this important contract.”
The Work Readiness programme is due to be completed in early 2018.