The partnership brings together key actors from industry, academia, youth inclusion, and skills development to establish an inclusive, scalable, industry-led and institutionalized dual TVET model that responds directly to the skills needs of Ghana's growing food and beverage sector.
The SkillUp Project builds on a proven collaboration between HPW Fresh & Dry, Heritage Christian University, and Chance for Children. By combining accredited classroom learning with structured workplace apprenticeships, the initiative aims to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills while expanding opportunities for women, vulnerable youth, and street-connected youth.
Despite increasing demand for skilled labour, many young people in Ghana continue to face challenges accessing quality, employment-oriented training. At the same time, companies frequently struggle to recruit workers with the competencies required by industry. SkillUp seeks to address these challenges by strengthening collaboration between training institutions, private sector companies, and public stakeholders.
Through the newly signed MoU, partners have formalised their commitment to jointly design and deliver market-driven training programmes that combine classroom instruction with workplace-based learning. The approach ensures that young people gain both technical competencies and practical experience, improving their readiness for employment and entrepreneurship
The SkillUp Project will be implemented in Greater Accra and the Eastern Region from January 2027 to September 2029, bringing together Swisscontact, HPW Fresh & Dry, Heritage Christian University, Chance for Children, private sector companies, and public institutions to strengthen skills development in Ghana's food and beverage sector. Through an industry-led dual TVET approach that combines accredited classroom learning with structured workplace apprenticeships, the initiative will equip young people with market-relevant technical and soft skills, improve their employability, and create sustainable pathways to decent work.
Particular attention will be given to women, vulnerable youth, and street-connected youth, while strengthening collaboration between industry and training providers to build a reliable pipeline of skilled talent for the sector.
The signing of the MoU marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to create sustainable employment pathways for young people while supporting the long-term competitiveness of Ghana's food and beverage industry. Through strong public-private partnerships and an industry-driven training approach, SkillUp seeks to demonstrate how dual TVET can contribute to reducing skills gaps, improving youth employment, and creating inclusive economic opportunities across Ghana.