A new international initiative aimed at transforming construction waste into economic opportunity has been launched in Nigeria and Mozambique, marking a significant step toward greener building practices and youth employment across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The GROW Project – Construction Waste Remediation and Recycling Vocational Training in Sub-Saharan Africa will focus on equipping young people, vocational trainers, and construction workers with the skills needed to manage, recycle, and repurpose construction and demolition waste.
The project targets both environmental sustainability and job creation in rapidly urbanising economies.
Turning Waste into Opportunity
Construction and demolition waste accounts for a significant share of urban solid waste in many African cities.
Yet much of it remains underutilised. The GROW Project aims to change that by embedding circular economy principles into vocational education systems.
Through curriculum reform and institutional capacity building, participating training institutions in Nigeria and Mozambique will introduce new modules on:
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Construction waste sorting and recycling
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Sustainable building materials
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Resource efficiency and circular construction models
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Green entrepreneurship and digital skills
The goal is to modernise vocational education and align it with emerging labour market demands in sustainable construction.
Focus on Youth and Women
A central pillar of the initiative is inclusive economic participation. The project aims to ensure that at least 30% of beneficiaries are women, while also creating structured pathways for youth employment.
Activities will include instructor training, work-based learning placements, internships, and job fairs designed to connect trainees with employers in the construction and waste management sectors.
In addition, entrepreneurship support will help participants explore self-employment opportunities in recycling and green construction services.
Backed by European Funding and Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
The GROW Project is co-funded by the European Commission under the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Vocational Education and Training programme, bringing together a consortium of European and African vocational institutions, universities, public authorities, and private sector partners.
By fostering collaboration between education providers and industry stakeholders, the project seeks to ensure that training outcomes are directly linked to real market needs.
Strengthening Green Skills in Growing Markets
Both Nigeria and Mozambique are experiencing rapid infrastructure growth, leading to increased volumes of construction waste.
However, formal recycling systems and technical training frameworks in this niche remain limited.
By integrating sustainable construction waste management into national vocational training systems, the GROW Project aims to:
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Reduce environmental pressure from construction waste
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Promote circular economy practices
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Support green job creation
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Enhance employability in emerging sectors
As global demand rises for environmentally responsible construction practices, initiatives like GROW position participating countries to develop the skilled workforce needed to compete in a greener economy.
With sustainability, employment, and skills development at its core, the project signals a growing recognition that the future of Africa’s construction sector lies not only in building more — but in building smarter and more sustainably.
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