The Volvo Group introduces vocational training schools in Africa
In partnership with SIDA and USAID, the Volvo Group will introduce vocational training schools for mechanics and vehicle operators in ten African countries. The aim is to promote growth in these countries, while creating a market for the Group’s products.
“By these training schools we are contributing to local financial development as our business grows. This is a win-win situation, made possible by a public-private partnership,” says Volvo’s President and CEO Olof Persson.
In partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the equivalent US organization, the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Volvo Group will introduce vocational training schools in ten African countries over a period of five years, commencing in 2014. In consultation with local authorities, the Volvo Group, SIDA and USAID will design and finance vocational trainings in which students can become mechanics, and learn to operate vehicles, trucks, buses and construction equipment.
”The generation of decent jobs gives people the ability to support themselves in the long term. By working in public-private partnerships we can generate more resources for sustainable development and contribute together in actions against poverty, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Sida’s Director-General.
By contributing expertise, manuals, products and exchanges, the Volvo Group is helping to build up the network of dealers and mechanics that is required for future sales of its products in these countries. The Group’s contribution to the vocational trainings amounts to SEK 30 million.
Sustainable business
The schools will be the continuation of a pilot project that the Volvo Group conducted through Volvo Construction Equipment in partnership with SIDA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where a vocational school received extra resources to train mechanics for construction equipment. Due to Volvo CE’s participation in the project, the students have gained access to modern machinery.
The training schools will be set up in countries that are both business-critical for the Volvo Group and eligible for development grants from both SIDA and USAID.
“A sustainable development within social, financial, and environmental dimensions is something that we see as a necessary prerequisite for long-term profitability. By training local labor to sell, drive and serve our products we are broadening our own market and at the same time contributing to sustainable growth in the countries in which the Volvo Group is active,” says Olof Persson.
November 19, 2013
Reporters who want more information, please contact
Karin Wik, Volvo Group, +46 765 53 10 20
John Mies, Volvo Group North America, +1 336 39 34 300
Tove Wennergren, Sida, + 46 73-257 2544
For more stories from the Volvo Group, please visit http://www.volvogroup.com/globalnews.
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