Tanzania’s construction sector accounts for more than a tenth of the GDP and is growing, yet many companies rely on foreign staff for critical roles due to a lack of skilled locals. At the same time, the country has a very young population eager to work but is under-skilled and many jobs remain informal. Graduates of vocational training schools often lack practical skills and industry exposure, making it difficult for them to secure decent employment. Meanwhile, the private sector has expressed strong support for structured, dual apprenticeship models building on results from PropelA Kenya (2022–2025), where 430 apprentices enrolled, 146 graduated with nationally recognised NITA certification, and 69 companies participated.
PropelA Tanzania applies a private sector-driven approach to the development challenges of decent work opportunities for youth and the shortage of skilled labour in the construction sector.
Our approach is simple: when companies co‑own and co‑lead vocational training, the training becomes relevant, effective, and directly linked to real employment opportunities. The project works with leading construction companies, vocational training centres and government to jointly develop a dual apprenticeship model in plumbing and electrical trades.
The goal is not only to train young people but to transform the national Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system so that the promoted dual apprenticeship model becomes a standard, accredited pathway in Tanzania. This will be achieved by (1) co‑creating the model with industry, academia, and vocational training providers, (2) demonstrating its effectiveness for both learners and companies, and (3) supporting its embedding through national accreditation and public co-financing. The direct beneficiaries are unemployed young Tanzanians, but the long‑term gains will be shared widely across companies, communities, and the broader economy, including a more reliable pipeline of job-ready talent for employers.
With Swiss expertise and a proven dual apprenticeship model in Kenya adapted to Tanzanian realities, the project brings practical, scalable innovations that can transform how skills are developed in the country—including a structured pathway that combines workplace learning and training at a vocational institute (as in Kenya: 75% company-based learning, 25% institutional training). The aim is that by the end of the first project phase in 2029, leading construction companies have adopted the dual apprenticeship programme as the most important way to recruit and train the young workforce. Both companies and vocational training providers have built the competence and capacity to educate apprentices.
This project is financed by the Hilti Foundation. 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.