Enabel and the private sector: natural allies

Enabel develops strategic partnerships with the private sector to boost employment, strengthen value chains and accelerate the sustainable transition. By combining expertise and investment, we turn shared ambitions into concrete actions, driving inclusive growth and creating local economic opportunities.

Brussels Airlines: training, employment, entrepreneurship

The partnership between Enabel and Brussels Airlines focuses on joint advocacy, coordinated communication and initiatives in the field of international cooperation. The two companies will share information and networks, and co-create projects linked to the Global Gateway, including in the areas of technical assistance, vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship. The partnership also provides for skills transfer through joint training programmes, collaboration within the African Competence Centre and work placements. Initiatives in sustainable tourism and support for local markets will also be explored, whilst aligning their efforts in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Meanwhile, the European Union has entrusted Enabel with an urgent programme at Bujumbura Airport in Burundi. Following technical discussions with the Burundian civil aviation authorities and Brussels Airlines, Enabel is preparing the action plan and budget for the measures to be funded. The initiative aims to improve airport services, strengthen connectivity and support Burundi’s economic development.

Rio Tinto: investing in women’s employment

In Guinea, Enabel has formed a partnership with Rio Tinto (an international mining group) to enhance the employability and economic empowerment of 500 young people, particularly vulnerable girls and women. The partners are co-funding Women’s Economic Empowerment Centres, which offer technical and entrepreneurial training in food processing, dressmaking, hairdressing, soap-making and market gardening.

This collaboration improves the quality of training, develops occupational standards aligned with market needs, equips the centres and strengthens the capacities of female trainers, whilst promoting the socio-professional integration of female learners. By combining public expertise and private commitment, this partnership provides long-term support for human capital development and local economic growth, particularly along the Simandou corridor linking the south-east of the country to the capital, Conakry.

AB InBev: A strategic partnership for sustainable value chains

Enabel and AB InBev have entered a long‑term strategic partnership to advance sustainable development across agricultural value chains, promote circular economy initiatives, and strengthen water stewardship and climate resilience in Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, the collaboration builds on previous joint initiatives and sets the foundation for a structured partnership combining the strengths of a public development actor and a global private sector leader. AB InBev contributes extensive operational experience, innovation platforms such as the 100+ Accelerator, and wide agricultural supply chains, while Enabel brings strong local presence, technical expertise and deep networks across governments and civil society.

Initial opportunities for collaboration are under development in Mozambique, Uganda and Tanzania. Joint project development focuses on three priority areas:

• Sustainable agriculture: Improving yields and supporting and upskilling farmers and cooperatives, including trainings and other labor upskilling activities.

• Water stewardship: Protecting watersheds, enhancing community access to clean water, and promoting responsible water management.

• Energy & Emissions: Bottle recycling, aggregation hubs and transport solutions for waste management, glass recovery and recycling systems, renewable energy projects, low-carbon logistics, and local resilience initiatives.

In Uganda, both partners are co-designing initiatives to strengthen the barley value chain and promote inclusive economic development. Actions include training 500 farmers, co‑developing a barley production curriculum, and supporting the digitalisation of Village Savings and Loan Associations. Employment promotion, SME support and greening initiatives are being developed, while monitoring and evaluation are jointly conducted to track progress across training, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.

Junior academies in Ukraine

In Ukraine, Enabel is piloting a ‘Junior Academy’, a public-private partnership to enhance skills development of young people. It is a collaborative model that brings together public authorities, the private sector, and Vocational Education & Training institutions. The initiative aims to address the mismatch between education and labour market needs, helping to build a future-proof workforce for Ukraine’s recovery.

The first European company to join was Bosch, partnering with Enabel to enhance training and upskilling in two areas: diagnostics and adjustment of automotive electronic equipment, and the installation of engineering systems. Belgium finances the procurement of state-of-the-art equipment and the training of vocational instructors at the Bosch Training Centre, while Bosch contributes through lab design, curriculum development, and expert guest lectures.

The first pilot of the Bosch Junior Academy is already operational at Boryspil Vocational College with more than 170 students. Five more academies are in development. The project has strong support from Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science and is implemented in partnership with the Kyiv and Chernihiv Regional Administrations.

The Junior Academy model is scalable and replicable across regions and sectors. This approach will also inform Enabel’s upcoming partnership with Belgium’s innovative construction material company ETEX, aimed at training and upskilling craftsmen in construction and construction technologies.