Global Gateway projects

• Project: Opportunity Driven Skills and VET in Sub-Saharan Africa (TEI OP-VET)
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe

The expectations for vocational education and training are high on the African continent, especially with regard to reducing youth unemployment. Team Europe’s OP-VET initiative aims to increase the labour market relevance of vocational education and training (VET), but looks at the development needs of VET primarily in terms of the employment opportunities and value chains driven by investment.

Finland is involved in the preparation and implementation of the initiative together with France, Germany and Belgium. Finnish expertise is particularly needed in identifying investment-driven job opportunities and developing value chains.

The initiative builds on the experience of the VET Toolbox project funded by the European Commission.

• Project: Regional Teachers’ Initiative for Africa
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe

In early 2023, the European Commission launched a Regional Teachers’ Initiative in Africa. Through the project, the European Union will invest around €100 million in education in Africa. The project aims to improve the quality of education in sub-Saharan Africa by focusing on improving teachers’ working conditions and teacher training. The challenges can be many: the profession of teaching can be unattractive, teachers lack professional development opportunities, resources, competences or support in their work, and initial teacher training may be insufficient in scope or quality.

Finland is actively involved in the project together with France, Germany and Belgium. Finland has specific strengths in areas such as digital pedagogy, teacher training and research. There is a particular need in for experts in the field of teacher training, both in basic and early childhood education as well as in continuing education. Finnish expertise is in demand, e.g. for the implementation of country-level action plans, advisory tasks, and implementation of projects related to the initiative. You can find more information about the project here.

• Project: Youth Employment and Vocational Training Project (TVET)
• Funded by: the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the German Ministry for Development Cooperation
• Partners: Ministry of Education of Kenya, Finnish National Agency for Education (FinCEED)
• Implementation: GIZ (German Development Agency)

Youth unemployment is an acute challenge in Kenya as around 80% of the unemployed are between 15 and 34 years old. Although many young people complete training programmes at public vocational education and training schools (TVET), they often cannot find adequate jobs after the training. Finland and Germany are working together with Kenya on the Youth Employment and Vocational Training Project. The aim is to increase youth employment by supporting Kenyan actors to provide industry-oriented vocational training in close cooperation with the private sector. Finland and Germany are co-financing the project with around €15 million and Kenya with around €2.5 million.

The project is now looking for Finnish vocational schools and training consultants to support the work of GIZ. There are outsourcing opportunities, for example, in the area of vocational school training, including developing modern teaching methods and national gender policies. For current and future calls for tender, please visit the GIZ website: Vergabemarktplatz GIZ | Projekte

You can also find more information on the project on the Finnpartnership website.

• Project: Inclusive Green Growth – Tsau //Khaeb National Park (HyphenSCDI)
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen), Germany

Part of Team Europe’s “Inclusive Green Growth” project, German company Hyphen is investing €10 billion in Namibia to produce green hydrogen from wind and solar power. The project is part of a larger Team Europe project to develop access to renewable energy in Namibia. There is a demand for Finnish expertise, particularly in energy and water sectors. You can find more information on the project website.

With several Team Europe initiatives taking place in Namibia, EU-Namibia Business Forum will also be organised in late spring. In addition, the Namibian Chamber of Mines will organise Mining Expo at the end of August. Finland is planning a possible delegation visit to Namibia at the same time.

• Project: Inclusive Green Growth
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe

Part of Team Europe’s “Inclusive Green Growth” initiative, the project aims to promote responsible sourcing of critical raw materials and sustainable investment throughout the value chain. The project provides good opportunities for Finnish companies working in mining and water sectors. You can find more information about European Commission’s and Namibia’s strategic partnership here and Memorandum of Understanding here.

With several Team Europe initiatives taking place in Namibia, EU-Namibia Business Forum will also be organised in late spring. In addition, the Namibian Chamber of Mines will organise Mining Expo at the end of August. Finland is planning a possible delegation visit to Namibia at the same time.

In Uganda several sectors, including infrastructure, mining, health and energy, are providing opportunities for investment and partnerships. Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has issued a report of bankable projects in the country which gives an overview of how each sector has developed in the recent years.

For example in the minerals sector, companies have developed viable investment projects and are currently looking for partnerships to implement them. In the health sector, the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health is seeking private sector investment to increase energy supply in the low rural electrified areas, and to renovate and equip selected hospitals.

For the tourism sector, there has been identified several priority projects to be handled by both public and private sector entities. These include for example establishing the Lake Victoria Tourism circuit to enhance tourism activities and experiences around Entebbe for both domestic and regional visitors, and the construction of Hoima International Airport to essentially support the development and operation of the oil refinery as well as development and production of upstream oil.

• Project: Data Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa (part of D4D Hub initiative)
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe

The Data Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa project aims to strengthen policy governance for personal and other data and to promote the transfer of data across borders to support business in Africa. It also focuses on promoting partnerships for green and secure data infrastructure investments. The project is part of the larger D4D Hub initiative, which brings together digitalisation projects. Finland is participating in the preparation of the project together with Belgium, France, Germany, Estonia and the European Commission.