Economic Empowerment of Girls in Mozambique

In low- and middle-income countries like Mozambique, which have a large informal economy, tailored and locally relevant responses are key to unlocking sustainable livelihood options, especially for marginalized young women. From rural to urban areas, Bantwana’s Siyakha Girls model engages young women as well as local businesses and potential employers in identifying entry-points into viable occupations — and uses gender sensitive approaches that prepare young women to enter the workforce.

Siyakha Girls is a comprehensive economic strengthening framework, initially designed and tested in Zimbabwe, for reaching vulnerable adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) , ages 15 to 24 . The model demonstrates how the right set of skills and supports—built on active engagement of AGYW, their families or partners, and their employers or business mentors—can yield impactful results even in highly informal or constrained economies.

With USAID-funding, the Bantwana team in Mozambique is providing technical assistance and capacity building support to local implementing partner ANDA to adapt and implement Siyakha Girls. After a successful pilot in 2021, that contextualized the model to Mozambique, Bantwana is now providing intensive TA to ANDA and several other Mozambican partners to scale up Siyakha Girls, with USAID endorsement and continued funding.

Bantwana’s technical assistance package for Siyakha Girls in Mozambique includes:

• Leading adaptation of the Siyakha model and local partner capacity development to implement it as part of their DREAMS programs in various districts
• Supporting partners to conduct localized market assessments, recruit and enroll participants, and deliver core Siyakha trainings (in Foundational Skills, Financial Asset Building, and Sexual Harassment Prevention)
• Facilitating coordination among vocational training institutions, companies, artisans, and strategic partners to support girls through apprenticeships and financial access and inclusion
• Monitoring, supervising, and troubleshooting each step of the model for fidelity and impact, as well as budgeting for cost-effective implementation

To learn more about Bantwana’s technical assistance achievements and lessons learned during Siyakha scale-up in Mozambique, click here.

“We are doing what it takes to transform these [Siyakha] girls into technically competent market players” —Technical and Vocational Education Training [TVET] Center Director

“I have improved my financial knowledge and capacity and I have also learned how to present and advocate for myself in the workplace. I am very thankful to Siyakha for giving me an opportunity to achieve my dream by helping me and other young women to have a job or their own business.” —AGYW, Siyakha program graduate