Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan government launched this Monday a project to create more than 37,000 jobs for young people, budgeted at 124.6 million dollars and financed by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union (EU).
The youth employment project in Angola, called “Projeto Crescer” , worth over 106 million euros , is an intersectoral initiative overseen by the Angolan Ministry of Planning, which aims to promote youth employment through entrepreneurship and the expansion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The initiative, aimed at young people between the ages of 15 and 35, of which at least 50% must be women, and which will be developed in 11 Angolan provinces between 2025 and 2029, also aims to stimulate startups and develop the skills of young people working in the agriculture, aquaculture, transport and renewable energy sectors.
The project’s goals include creating 37,430 direct jobs, generating approximately 112,290 indirect jobs, providing 97,569 young people with digital skills and training in agriculture and transportation, and accelerating the development of 10,400 active micro-enterprises.
The “Grow Project” has a total cost of US$124.68 million, meaning the Angolan government will invest approximately US$29.06 million, the AfDB US$79.08 million, and the EU US$16.08 million, with an estimated private sector contribution of US$460,000.
Other project goals include supporting the development of 385 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and 97 startups, strengthening the capacity of 40 business support organizations, and injecting up to $15 million into financing for MSMEs and startups.
Angola’s Minister of Planning, Victor Hugo Guilherme, stated at the time that the “Crescer Project” aims to promote decent employment for Angolan youth, ensuring gender equality, prioritizing entrepreneurship and the expansion of MSME activity.
According to the Angolan minister, the launch of this project “attests to the executive’s firm commitment to generating decent employment” by strengthening synergy between the public sector, multilateral development partnerships, private actors, and civil society.
He also noted that the initiative “highlights the robustness” of the strategic partnership between the Government of Angola, the AfDB and the EU, “promoting the training and development of young people’s skills, thus making them more capable of entering the job market.”
“The Crescer Project is an investment in Angola’s future through its commitment to modernizing educational institutions, strengthening incubators, and bringing the private sector and youth closer together, promoting sustainable growth opportunities,” said Victor Hugo Guilherme.
Rosário Bento Pais, the European Union’s ambassador to Angola, highlighted the European bloc’s actions and investments in training and developing human capital in Angola, noting that a new program to support technical education and vocational training will be launched in early 2026.
The main objective of the Crescer Project is to promote employability and entrepreneurship among young people in sectors such as agriculture, transportation, renewable energy and digital technology.
The government initiative will be implemented in the provinces of Luanda, Huila, Huambo, Benguela, Cabinda, Cuanza Sul, Bié, Malanje, Icolo and Bengo, Moxico and Moxico Leste.
According to the authorities, the regions were selected based on criteria such as progress made under the Government’s flagship programs, high-potential ecological zones crossed by the Lobito Corridor, proximity to training institutions, and others.
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