Skills to Build

The project

The project contributes to improving employment opportunities for vulnerable and unskilled youth, as well as low-skilled workers. This is achieved by promoting competence-based training and certification in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders. Through this approach, 3,000 young people (30% women) and 50 workers and workshop owners (10% women) will acquire market-relevant skills or have their existing competencies certified, thereby enhancing their employability. The project focuses on a fundamental reform of vocational education and training, aiming to establish competency-based training and certification as a long-term standard in training centers across three provinces.

Key stakeholders include public training institutions, which deliver the training; private companies, which provide internships and employment opportunities; and the National Authority of Professional Education, responsible for certification and compliance with standards. The project beneficiaries are young people, workers, and workshop owners, who will improve their skills, gain better access to employment opportunities, and thus contribute to the labour market. 

The project focuses, among other things, on the following key sectors:

• Electrical installation
• Bricklaying
• Industrial and automotive mechanics
• Water and sanitation engineering

Key measures include the introduction of competence-based training programs, the expansion of interventions to the province of Manica, the promotion of partnerships with employers, and the enhancement of vocational education through internships.

The project also anchors systemic change by integrating existing structures and frameworks, ensuring alignment with national policies while simultaneously promoting job creation and economic development.

Results 2021-2024 (Phase II)

• 5392 young adults (25% women) participated in modular training programmes and gained access to courses on entrepreneurship.
• 8 training centres were accredited by the National Authority for Vocational Education (ANEP) and now offer competence-based training in line with the new National Qualifications Framework for Vocational Education.
• 39 construction workers and workshop owners obtained formal vocational certification for their previously acquired skills.
• 12 state-accredited training centres now offer competence-based certification for informally acquired skills.

Project Goals 2025-2026 (Phase III)

• Strengthen the implementation of the competence-based training by expanding its capacity and reach.
• Promote collaboration between the private sector and training centres by creating more internship opportunities within the framework of competence-based training.
• Demonstrate the feasibility of a nationwide standard for vocational education by harmonising training offerings and certification processes.
• Expand the framework for recognising prior learning, enabling employed workers to receive official certification and thereby improve their chances of employment or self-employment.
• Support small and medium-sized workshop owners with targeted business trainings and investments to stimulate growth and create jobs for vocational training graduates.

Financing partners

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.