E SAL GHA 2025 GIZ Thorsten Thor 25

Insights from our partner companies

“Talent is everywhere, 
but opportunity is not.” 

Interview with Nii Ashirifi Gogo, Senior Manager at E-Services Africa (eSAL)

The “BPO Skills for Jobs” programme equips young people and marginalized groups in Ghana – such as women and refugees – with the technical and soft skills needed to enter the fast-growing global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. The project is a collaboration between Invest for Jobs, the Ghanaian company E-Services Africa (eSAL) and the global tech company Concentrix. The goal: To open career paths while promoting fair employment. In the interview Nii Ashirifi Gogo, Senior Manager at eSAL, explains how the partnership works, what challenges it addresses, and why such collaborations are key to tackling youth unemployment. 

How would you describe the collaboration with Invest for Jobs?

Our collaboration with Invest for Jobs is built on a shared belief that skills development and job creation are engines for economic growth. This partnership shows how a local company and an international organisation can come together to address a challenge as critical as youth unemployment – which is one of the most important factors for Ghana’s economic development.

 

How does this collaboration work in practice?

It is a true partnership. From the very beginning – when we designed the programme – we worked closely together, defining objectives and structuring the trainings. At eSAL, we bring our years of experience in the BPO sector: recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds, designing assessment processes, and aligning curricula with the demands of international clients. Invest for Jobs complements this with their international expertise, insights from similar initiatives across Africa and by supporting the trainings. Together, we ensure that the programme is practical, inclusive, and directly aligned with market needs.

 

Which challenges does the programme address?

The programme addresses a double challenge. On the one hand, the BPO industry is growing rapidly and offers a wealth of opportunities for young people. On the other hand, our education system does not always prepare them well enough for the realities of the labour market. The programme helps to close these gaps by providing the technical and behavioural skills needed to succeed in the industry. It is particularly important for marginalized groups such as young women, refugees, or persons with disabilities, who often face additional barriers to accessing decent and secure jobs.

 

How well prepared are graduates once they finish the programme?

They are very well prepared. The structure – four weeks of classroom-based training followed by two weeks of practical experience on the job – ensures that graduates can contribute from day one. They acquire technical skills such as customer service, sales, and data analysis, as well as soft skills like communication, teamwork, and self-management. These skills are crucial for long-term employability and career growth.

 

What happens after the programme?

Many graduates are hired directly by eSAL and can immediately apply their skills while earning a stable income. Others continue their journey with our partner Concentrix, where they go through an additional recruitment process and then get the chance to work with international clients. This not only premvides them with a job but also opens real career perspectives in a global company.

 

What impresses you most about the programme?

What impresses me most are the trainees, the transformation in their confidence and professional behaviour. By the end of the programme, they know how to communicate effectively, collaborate with colleagues and supervisors, and demonstrate emotional intelligence. These are the skills that enable them not just to get a job, but to succeed and stay in employment over the long term.

 

How does the collaborations with Invest for Jobs promote Ghana’s labour market?

In collaborations we can achieve more. We can train more people and provide more jobs. A partner like Invest for Jobs brings in their network, their resources, and their experience from other countries. This strengthens the programme and makes it more impactful. We are committed to inclusivity – making sure that especially young people from marginalized backgrounds get a fair chance getting a good job. As we like to say: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. This programme aims to close this gap while boosting the local economy. 

Contact

We are looking forward to hearing from you

Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to work together with companies to create up to 100,000 good jobs and to improve working conditions and social protection in its African partner countries.

Partner countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.

Find out more about our services for companies, universities, chambers and associations: https://invest-for-jobs.com/en/offers

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