The Embassy of Switzerland and SNV Scale Youth Employment Project in Tanzania

Dodoma, June 6, 2016 Through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Embassy of Switzerland and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) today announced a partnership to scale the “Opportunities for Youth Employment” (OYE) project in Tanzania. SDC will contribute US$4.7 million over two years to expand the project to five new regions in rural Tanzania and reach an additional 6,500 economically advantaged, out-of-school youth.

The OYE project was launched by SNV and The MasterCard Foundation in 2013 to improve the livelihoods of 20,500 youth by creating employment opportunities in the agriculture and renewable energy sectors in rural Tanzania, Rwanda and Mozambique.

By the end of March this year, 13,407 youth – 40 percent of whom are young women – have enrolled in the project, with 12,403 completing life, business and technical skills training. Of those who have completed training, 72 percent (8,945) have transitioned into sustainable employment or started their own businesses.

The Ambassador of Switzerland in Tanzania, Florence Tinguely Mattli, praised the OYE project as an innovative and unique model for youth employment. “SDC selected this project to expand its scope in Tanzania and introduce the water and sanitation sector as a viable market for youth employment and enterprise development,” she said. “Fostering youth employment and self-employment in different rural value chains will be key to achieve more inclusive economic growth in Tanzania.”

According to the World Bank, approximately 32 percent of Tanzania’s population is between the ages of 15-34. It is estimated that 13.4 percent of the total youth work force is unemployed. However, the most significant problem is ‘vulnerable employment’, which applies to unpaid family workers and self-employed workers. In Tanzania, vulnerable employment among youth is estimated at 88 percent.

“Young people engage in a broad variety of employment and enterprise opportunities and generally don’t rely on a single job or trade,” said Roy van der Drift, OYE Program Manager for SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.  “We work to ensure that we address this reality, providing the skills young people need to thrive in the economy.”

The OYE project directly engages employers, the private sector, governments and financial services providers to ensure that ambitious young people develop skills that employers seek, matching them with concrete opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship.

“This is an excellent opportunity to scale the OYE project and expand its impact,” said Alemayehu Konde Koira, Senior Program Manager, Youth Livelihoods at The MasterCard Foundation. “We are excited to see increased collaboration between development partners on an innovative solution for youth employment that will benefit thousands of young people in rural Tanzania.”

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About SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

SNV is an international not-for-profit development organisation with a long-term track record in 38 countries. SNV believes that no-one should have to live in poverty and that all people should have the opportunity to pursue their own sustainable development. For more information, please visit: www.snv.org/

About The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

SDC is responsible for the overall coordination of development activities as well as the humanitarian aid delivered by the Swiss Confederation. In Tanzania, Switzerland is contributing to the struggle against poverty in the central corridor. While facilitating access to good quality health services, it is also working to promote employment and boost incomes in rural areas, as well as to strengthen civil society and independent media. For more information, please visit: www.eda.admin.ch/daressalaam

About The MasterCard Foundation

The MasterCard Foundation works with visionary organizations to provide greater access to education, skills training and financial services for people living in poverty, primarily in Africa. As one of the largest, private foundations, its work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. Based in Toronto, Canada, its independence was established by MasterCard when the Foundation was created in 2006. For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org. Follow the Foundation at @MCFoundation on Twitter.

Press contact:

Corjan van der Jagt, OYE Tanzania Project Manager, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Tel: +255 22 260 0340; Email: cvanderjagt@snvworld.org

 

Roy van der Drift, OYE Program Manager (Tanzania, Mozambique, Rwanda), SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Tel: +255 688009351; Email: rvanderdrift@snvworld.org

 

Sheila Ally, Communication Officer, Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania

Tel: +255 22 266 6220, Email: sheila-suleiman.ally@eda.admin.ch

 

Kristy Tomkinson, Communications Associate, The MasterCard Foundation

Tel: +1 416-214-1426; Email: ktomkinson@mastercardfdn.org

 

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