Connecting Young People in Cabo Delgado to Employment Opportunities

A youth internship program supported by the Foundation

Completed

Why this matters

Mozambique has one of the youngest populations in the world: nearly two thirds of its citizens are under 25. In Cabo Delgado, expanding employment pathways for young people is both a social and an economic priority. The gap between finishing school and finding a first job remains one of the most persistent structural challenges facing young Mozambicans, with direct consequences for stability, inclusion, and long-term development.

International evidence shows that structured internship programs, combined with employability training, significantly improve labor-market integration.

Sources: World Bank — Mozambique Jobs Diagnostic; INE.

The project

The Foundation supported the MozYouth internship program, which connected young people in Cabo Delgado to first work experiences. Participants completed preparatory training – Work Readiness, Employability, and Health and Safety – before paid internships with host employers across sectors including transport and logistics, hospitality and tourism, education, and agriculture. The cohort was intentionally inclusive, with a majority of women and dedicated places for young people with disabilities.

Results
  • 500 young people supported (300 women, 200 men), including 10 participants with disabilities.
  • 461 internships completed.
  • 214 placed in employment (a 46% placement rate), 135 hired directly by their host company.
  • Around half of all participants now have a source of income.
This internship was a milestone for me. I got to learn what it truly means to be a professional.

– Géssica Paiva, MozYouth intern