The government announced in Parliament that it plans to invest $46.5 million in the “Acredita Emprega” programme, aimed at financing youth entrepreneurship, including 15,000 non-repayable grants to boost employment.
Speaking this Wednesday, April 8, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Caifadine Massane, said the initiative, launched nationwide last month, seeks to curb unemployment levels. In addition to the investment, the programme is expected to offer 80,000 free vocational training scholarships for people aged 17 to 35.
The minister clarified that the 15,000 grants are specifically targeted at young women, who will be able to apply for 100,000 meticais to start their own businesses.
“Within just a few days after applications opened, the programme received 107,404 applications, of which 99,813 were deemed eligible, representing an eligibility rate of 93%. These figures clearly show the high demand in our country for concrete training and employment opportunities,” he said.
The minister added that the government will also expand the “Eu Sou Capaz” programme, designed for vulnerable youth, focusing on self-esteem, career guidance, and the development of entrepreneurial skills. He noted that last year the programme reached 515,000 beneficiaries, mainly through the provision of school materials.
“In 2026, coverage will be expanded to 600,000 beneficiaries starting in July, while also including 27,000 out-of-school girls in life skills training,” he said, adding that the programme will extend to 91 districts, up from the previous 75.
According to the data presented, Mozambique currently has nine employment incubators, with plans to build three more this year. “The government wants young people to master technology in order to benefit from new jobs emerging in the context of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in a country with more than 10 million internet users and over 20 million mobile wallet users, most of them young,” he stressed.
According to the minister, the World Economic Forum estimates that by 2030, AI and automation could eliminate around 85 million jobs globally, while simultaneously creating 97 million new roles that do not yet exist, urging Mozambique not to be a “spectator” in these transformations.
“Preparing our youth to navigate, compete and thrive in this new economy is not just a sectoral policy issue—it is a matter of national sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and collective dignity,” he concluded.
Source: Diário Económico
