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Building the Future: Strengthening Vocational Education and Youth Employability in Mozambique 

Mozambique
Reskilling and upskilling, Labour market insertion, Initial vocational education and training
10.11.2025
On 30 October, Swisscontact convened a national dialogue under the Skills to Build project at the Hotel Indy Village – Montebelo, Maputo. The event brought together close to 80 participants, including representatives from government institutions, vocational training centres (IEPs), the private sector, international partners, and the Swiss Ambassador to Mozambique.
 The meeting provided a platform for reflection on how vocational education can better respond to labour market needs and aspirations of young people—key to unlocking employability and national development.
Multi-stakeholder panel: education sector, private sector and civil society contributing to the discussion on vocational education and employability. 

Aligning Vocational Education with Market Demands

A panel composed of private sector representatives, education experts, and civil society leaders tackled the central question: How can vocational education be aligned with the needs of the market and young people?

During the discussion, Prof. Dr. Júlio Gonçalves, academic and higher education manager representing the productive sector, underscored:

Prof. Dr. Júlio Gonçalves shares his perspective on aligning vocational education with labour market needs and youth aspirations. 
"It is essential to ensure continuous interaction between educational institutions and the productive sector so that vocational training programmes are truly tailored to the real needs of the market."
Prof. Dr. Júlio Gonçalves

Dr. Ida Alvarinho, a senior specialist in vocational education, emphasised the importance of positioning vocational education as a strategic and aspirational pathway:

"Vocational education must be strategic in order to solve technical challenges and improve lives. It must be valued as a first choice, quality and certification must be guaranteed, internships must be promoted, training must be integrated into industry, and innovation must be encouraged to generate jobs. Collaboration between government, providers and the productive sector is essential, with attention to the inclusion of women in technical areas."
Dr. Ida Alvarinho
Dr. Ida Alvarinho shares her insights on aligning vocational education with market demands and the needs of young people. 

From a competency-based perspective, Dr. P. José Angel Rajoy, professor of competence-based curricula, shared:

"Young people must be at the centre of vocational education priorities, playing an active role in the educational process. Vocational education must be a space for building identity, citizenship and life skills."
Dr. P. José Angel Rajoy
Dr. José Ángel Rajoy delivers his remarks during the panel discussion

He proposed consolidating vocational education as a true Competency-Based Training (CBT) system built on three core pillars:

  1. Clear and motivating guidance for trainers, with professional recognition.
  2. Shared responsibility for financing vocational education among all actors.
  3. A revised assessment model that reflects real skill development.

Adding a broader economic lens, Epifânia Langa, expert in economic and social development, noted:

"To respond to the needs of the market and young people, vocational education must align itself with the structural transformation of the economy, training technicians capable of adding value to production chains and driving industrialisation. It is necessary to invest in training geared towards strategic sectors, promote technological and practical skills that increase productivity, and create mechanisms for integration between training, innovation and employability."
Epifânia Langa
Epifânia Langa delivers her remarks during the panel discussion

Towards a Model That Works

Participants highlighted several priorities for a more effective vocational education model:

  • Strengthening linkages between training and the productive sector.
  • Updating curricula to focus on practical skills and innovation.
  • Encouraging graduate associations to foster employment and entrepreneurship.
  • Promoting partnerships between training institutions and companies.
  • Ensuring inclusion and equitable access to vocational opportunities.

The dialogue marked an important step toward shaping public policies that foster skills development in response to Mozambique’s evolving economic and social realities.

Private sector representatives engage in group discussions on strengthening linkages between vocational education and labour market needs. 

Swisscontact’s Ongoing Commitment

Regula Chavez-Malgiaritta, Country Director of Swisscontact Mozambique, reaffirmed the organisation’s long-term vision:

"Investing in vocational education is investing in the future, and this is the key to innovation, dignity and social transformation."
Regula Chavez-Malgiaritta, Country Director of Swisscontact Mozambique
Regula Chavez-Malgiaritta, Director of Swisscontact Mozambique, delivers her remarks during the Skills to Build project meeting in Maputo. 

With support from the Medicor Foundation, the Happel Foundation, the Linsi Foundation, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Swisscontact continues to champion the development of a robust vocational education ecosystem - one that equips young Mozambicans with the skills and confidence to shape their future and drive national progress.

Media and Engagement

To hear more insights from the event, watch the Miramar TV feature at the link below (coverage begins at minute 39)...

This project is financed by the Medicor Foundation, Happel Foundation, and Linsi-Foundation, among other donors. It is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. 

2017 - 2026
Mozambique
Reskilling and upskilling, Labour market insertion, Initial vocational education and training
Skills to Build
In close collaboration with the private sector, the project aims to improve the quality of life of vulnerable young people through vocational training in the construction and other industries. By introducing competence-based training and certification in public and private training centres, the project will increase income and employment opportunities for vulnerable young people and already employed, low-skilled workers and workshop owners.
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