The project also plans to train 98,000 young people in digital technologies, transport logistics, and climate-smart agriculture, skills increasingly vital to Africa’s growing innovation economy.
“By placing youth at the centre of national development, the government sends a powerful message: that young people will build Angola’s future,” said Eugénio Maria Paulo, AfDB Executive Director for Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Empowering Africa’s next generation
Planning Minister Victor Hugo Guilherme described the project as a “strategic investment” in Angola’s human capital, noting that the program is designed to strengthen youth-driven enterprises and innovation.
The AfDB will contribute $79.08 million, the Angolan government $29.06 million, and the European Union $16.08 million to the project. About $15 million will be dedicated to financial inclusion initiatives, with half of the beneficiaries expected to be women.
The Crescer Project complements the Science and Technology Park, another AfDB-backed venture set for completion in November 2025, which will provide scholarships and boost STEM innovation.
Since 1980, the Bank has approved over $3.36 billion in loans and grants to support Angola’s development, reaffirming its growing role in Africa’s youth empowerment and economic transformation agenda.
