According to official statistics, 47% of South Africans aged 18-35 (about 7’000’000 people) are chronically out of work. Amongst this population, 55% are women in a particularly difficult and vulnerable situation. Every year 800´000 youths enter the job market for the first time, of whom only about 300´000 find employment. This low uptake is largely due to a mismatch between the skills required by the economy and the outputs of the education system.

In 2001, the Swiss South African Cooperation Initiative (SSACI) was established as a public-private partnership between SDC and Swiss companies trading in South Africa.

HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are much higher in youth groups if they have dropped out of school and are unemployed. Increasing employment is therefore also supporting the fight against this pandemic.

Objectives/ Strategy

SSACI’s overall objective is to alleviate poverty and unemployment by supporting vocational training and job-creation projects for unemployed young South Africans, especially those from historically-disadvantaged communities.

With its programmes SSACI participates directly in the fight against poverty and the stabilization of South African society through its skills-development projects and its support for public institutions delivering vocational training. Youth's skills are not only developed but the beneficiaries of the training are literally brought into wage employment or receive relevant support to start their own small business. Compared to international benchmark, enterprises created with SSACI's help are more sustainable and generate interesting profits for their owners. The networks created with government, para-statals and private stakeholders are increasing the value of the Swiss South African Cooperation Initiative's interventions.

Target group

SSACI’s target beneficiaries are young South Africans aged 16-35. About two-thirds of South Africa’s population is under the age of 35. Official statistics indicate that over 50% of them are unemployed. In rural areas, especially in African communities, unemployment amongst youths is often as high as 70%.

Activities and Expected Results

It is expected that, by the middle of 2010, SSACI-funded projects will have:

·        enrolled at least 2’000 youths in accredited skills training programmes that will enable them to earn a living through

·        started up at least 200 new enterprises and provided business-development services to at least 500 existing enterprises, leading to the creation of at least 800 new jobs;

·        helped the Department of Labour implement a nation-wide programme for developing emerging young entrepreneurs;

·        piloted the development of at least five new skills-training programmes by public Sector Education and Training Authorities and/or technical training institutions.

Achievements

Partners

SSACI implements its funding programme through a range of partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors. Important collaborative relationships have been developed with Further Education and Training colleges, tertiary training institutions and the Sector Education and Training Authorities which are largely responsible for implementing the National Skills Development Strategy in the workplace. 

Project duration

SSACI is registered in South Africa as a trust fund that could exist in perpetuity. Initial commitments from its funders are for five years, 2006-2010.

Funding

SSACI is currently funded by SDC, Swiss and South African corporates as well as Swiss Foundations. These are: ABB, Afrisam, Bühler, City Lodge South Africa, Clariant, Credit Suisse, Novartis Foundation, Novartis South Africa, Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation, Swiss International Air Lines, Swiss Re and UBS Optimus Foundation.

Geographical area

SSACI operates throughout South Africa.

Contact address

Swiss-South African Cooperation Initiative (SSACI)

Harrow Court 1

Isle of Houghton Office Park

11 Boundary Road

Houghton

Johannesburg

Telephone :   +27 11 642 2110

Faxsimile :    +27 11 642 2661

Email :          info@ssaci.org.za

Website        www.ssaci.org.za