UAE and Brazil initiate pioneering training program aimed at enhancing Africa's cashew and cocoa industries
United Arab Emirates and Brazil Africa Institute Launch Youth Technical Training Programme (YTTP) to Boost African Economies
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Brazil Africa Institute (IBRAF) have joined forces to launch the Youth Technical Training Programme (YTTP), an initiative aimed at equipping African youth with practical, in-demand technical and vocational skills. The programme is designed to enhance employability, entrepreneurial capacity, and foster inclusive economic growth, particularly within agricultural value chains and other key sectors.
The YTTP is a shining example of international collaboration that empowers communities and unlocks sustainable growth. The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to hunger, education, and economic growth.
Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, stated that the programme reflects the UAE's commitment to sustainable development through knowledge transfer. Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira praised IBRAF for fostering South-South cooperation through targeted capacity-building.
The training will span three continents: Africa, South America, and Asia. Initially, 50 participants from Angola and Guinea-Bissau will be trained. Participants from Angola will attend the Mixed Cocoa Research and Innovation Unit in Ilheus, focusing on the cocoa industry, while those from Guinea-Bissau will undergo training at Brazil's Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry in Fortaleza, focusing on the cashew industry.
The objectives of the YTTP include closing the skills gap, offering opportunities to youth excluded from traditional education systems, encouraging alternative career paths, promoting gender equity and inclusiveness, supporting youth to contribute effectively to economic development, and linking training with job opportunities.
The impact on African economies and agricultural value chains is significant. Enhanced youth employability, strengthening agricultural value chains, supporting economic diversification, contributing to inclusive growth, and supporting gender inclusiveness are all potential benefits of the YTTP. These programs are part of broader national strategies in countries like Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and others, which integrate technical training to drive economic transformation and youth employment at scale.
The broader objective of the YTTP is to train 1,000 young Africans by the end of 2025. A second phase of the programme will take place in the UAE, where the country will contribute to curriculum development, expert training, and financial support.
The YTTP is hoped to modernize production, boost exports, and reinforce food security in African nations. By equipping young Africans with technical skills critical for advancing agricultural value chains and broader economic sectors, the programme aims to address unemployment, increase productivity, and drive sustainable economic growth across the continent.
[1] Nigeria's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme [2] Sierra Leone’s new technical courses [3] South Africa’s Presidential Youth Employment Intervention [4] Africa's potential for expansion in vocational training
- The Youth Technical Training Programme (YTTP) will complement Nigeria's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme in enhancing employability and fostering economic growth.
- The skills gained from YTTP could potentially be integrated into Sierra Leone’s new technical courses, further bolstering the impact on youth education and self-development.
- South Africa’s Presidential Youth Employment Intervention could benefit from YTTP's emphasis on career development and skills training, supporting their efforts to address youth unemployment.
- As the YTTP unfolds, there is a great potential for expansion in vocational training across Africa, encouraging personal growth, industry development, and business innovation.
- With the YTTP's emphasis on research and innovation, African countries stand to gain a competitive edge in the global market, particularly in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
- Collaboration between the YTTP and financial institutions could lead to microloans and grants for participating youth, helping them to start and sustain their own businesses after training.
- Through partnership with universities, YTTP participants could have opportunities for further education and academic advancement, bolstering their individual development and industry competitiveness.
- As YTTP continues to develop, it will contribute to transformation in African economies, fostering a generation of youth who are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for sustainable economic growth, entrepreneurial success and innovation.
