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Microsoft, Ministry of Labour Launch Youth Jobs Program in Botswana

Microsoft, Ministry of Labour Launch Youth Jobs Program in Botswana

In partnership with NGOs, Microsoft, The National Internship Programme and other donor agencies, Botswana’s Ministry of Labour has created a youth jobs and business initiative. According to a Biz Tech Africa report, the employment scheme targets youth and recent college graduates.

The portal, or “one stop shop,” as Botswana Innovation Hub CEO Allan Boshwaen says, will offer youth job seekers a central destination to find career opportunities and employment.

At a recent stakeholders meeting, it was expressed that the program’s basis aims to expand job development — and to eventually positively impact business start-up, women’s and rural communities, according to the report.

“Microsoft [has] invested a lot of time and expertise so that the greatest number of people in Africa have access to ICTs, and in this regard, millions of people have been impacted,” Djam Bhakshandegi, Microsoft director of public affairs and citizenship told Biz Tech Africa.

“In order to do this, we are working with other companies so that those that don’t have access to technology will get it.”

In terms of job creation in Africa, Michael Murphy, US Embassy Charg’e d’Affairs in Gaborone, said in the report that the program will place Botswana in the running.

“The world is becoming more and faster paced and Botswana should do more to keep up with this development,” he said.

The International Labour Organization reported that a similar initiative — Botswana Jobs for Graduates (BW Jobs 4 Graduates) — was launched in February of 2012. Along with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and The Botswana Youth Council, The Ministry of Labour also supports this program.