Africa-Press – Mozambique. A new Professional Training and Paid Internship Programme benefiting young people in northern Mozambique was launched in Pemba today.
The initiative is a project of the Government of Mozambique, financed by the World Bank through Conecta Negócios, with technical support from the Agência de Desenvolvimento Integrado do Norte (ADIN). Implementation will be carried out by the MozYouth Foundation over a 15-month period.
The programme will directly benefit 1,000 young Mozambicans aged between 18 and 35. The majority of beneficiaries will be based in Cabo Delgado, with additional placements in Nampula and Niassa. In line with its strong commitment to gender inclusion, at least 60 per cent of participants will be women.
Addressing structural barriers to youth employment
Young people in northern Mozambique continue to face significant challenges, including limited access to first-job opportunities, restricted professional networks and persistent gender disparities in economic participation. The programme responds directly to these realities by connecting young people to structured, paid professional experience within private sector institutions.
“We are proud of this partnership with Conecta and ADIN in the implementation of this programme. In a context where the region’s economic dynamics, driven by major investments and value chains associated with the gas sector and other strategic sectors, increasingly require technical and behavioural skills, it is essential to prepare young people to respond to the real needs of companies and emerging opportunities. This programme strengthens their employability and contributes to more structured economic integration,” said Daniela Timmich, Programme Manager at MozYouth.
Through MozYouth’s proven implementation model, beneficiaries will receive targeted professional preparation followed by placement in host companies, where they will gain practical, hands-on experience in real working environments.
“As we have seen in various initiatives, more than 50 per cent of young people who undertake paid internships are subsequently hired by partner companies. These young people become agents of change, ready for the job market and building their future on real-world experience. Therefore, investing in paid internships means valuing young talent and strengthening the business ecosystem with skilled professionals,” said Orcídia Chiziane, representative of Conecta Negócios.
MozYouth maintains an established presence across Mozambique, including sustained engagement in Cabo Delgado and the broader northern region. The implementation of this programme reinforces that long-term commitment and strengthens the Foundation’s capacity to deliver large-scale, results-oriented youth employability initiatives.
In recent years, MozYouth has supported thousands of young professionals in accessing structured internships, the majority of whom have successfully transitioned into continued employment. This initiative builds on that experience within a nationally coordinated framework led by the Government of Mozambique and supported by development partners.
Strengthening institutions and local economies
Beyond individual beneficiaries, the programme is expected to contribute to broader socio-economic resilience by strengthening local companies with motivated young professionals, increasing income opportunities for families and promoting inclusive participation in the labour market.
By aligning government leadership, international financing, technical expertise and local implementation capacity, the initiative represents a coordinated investment in youth as drivers of stability, productivity and long-term development in northern Mozambique.
About MY
MozYouth is a non-profit foundation established in December 2023, committed to empowering and developing Mozambican youth through professional internships, training programs, and community-based initiatives. To date, MozYouth has placed over 2,000 interns, working with more than 300 companies across the country with over 50% of interns securing a job after completing the internship program.
About Conecta
Conecta Negócios is a program of the Mozambican Government, implemented by the Ministry of Finance, with the support of the World Bank, aimed at strengthening the performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through economic linkages.
