The Swedish Embassy and SNV, in partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Institute (IICN) and three private sector companies – Ignite, Engie Energy Access and SolarWorks – have launched the GeraSol project. This project, funded by the Government of Sweden with 423 million meticais, aims to create job opportunities for young people, develop sustainable skills and increase access to energy to mitigate climate change.
GeraSol will offer certified training to 3,000 young people and identify 2,000 of them for roles and jobs in the renewable energy sector. The project aims to ensure that young people acquire the necessary skills and are placed in salaried and self-employed jobs that match their interests and the demands of expanding the sector.
SNV will be responsible for managing the project, facilitating private sector investment and public sector involvement, as well as providing basic skills material to companies in order to achieve the objectives of employing and retaining young people. For its part, IICN will be GeraSol’s technical-vocational training center, and the companies will contribute to the design and delivery of training courses that provide young people with the skills needed in the private sector, as well as providing jobs, equipment, mentoring and internships for IICN trainees.
The Swedish Ambassador, Mette Sunnegrenn, highlighted the importance of the project, saying that “employment of and for young people is a key priority for Sweden in its development cooperation with Mozambique, and we believe in expanding the off-grid energy market, both in terms of supplying clean energy to vulnerable populations and creating jobs where it is most needed”.
