The Academy will offer courses in mechanics, heavy equipment repair, information technology and entrepreneurship, as well as English classes.

“The courses will train some 420 Zambian students and contribute to the pressing need for a skilled workforce in Zambia’s mining sector, the biggest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in the country,” said UNIDO’s Managing Director Philippe Scholtès.

The project will feed into the Mining Skills and Training Framework, a national initiative by the Government of Zambia and key mining industry stakeholders that aims to improve skills development for the mining sector. It will focus on a better matching of vocational education to private sector demand.

“Education is a key to employment and development. This partnership is important to create decent jobs and an inclusive business model. Through the ZAMITA project we can build a learning environment that matches the needs of the market and the needs of society,” said Lena Nordström, the Ambassador of Sweden to Zambia.

The ZAMITA project will also establish career service centres which will help graduates find jobs along the mining value chain and establish their own businesses.

“The new Academy will equip young people with the skills required by industry and thereby increase their employment opportunities. The academy will also pay attention to the proper disposal of contaminated and hazardous materials, as well as collection of used oils. All this contributes to UNIDO’s mandate of inclusive and sustainable industrial development,” added Scholtès.

In 2014, the Volvo Group announced a partnership with Sida and USAID to establish vocational training schools for mechanics, truck/bus drivers and construction equipment in ten African countries.

For more information, please contact:

Stavros Papastavrou

UNIDO Industrial Development Officer

email