In October 2024, FNB Mozambique, one of the country's leading banking institutions, and the MozYouth Foundation, dedicated to empowering young people and their integration into the workplace, formalized a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the main objective of creating internship opportunities at FNB for 15 recentlygraduated young people, providing them with practical experience in the banking sector. The internship program will place young people in various FNB branches located in eight provinces: Maputo, Matola, Beira, Chimoio, Nampula, Nacala, Xai-Xai, Maxixe and Tete.

"The main mission is, therefore, to contribute to create a new generation of professionals for the banking sector, providing the interns with practical experience, in addition to all the theoretical knowledge," explains Melba Jorge Nhamithambo, Head of Human Capital at FNB Mozambique. "The goal is not only to develop the young people's skills but also to improve their chances of entering the job market," she adds.

Pedro Santos, the Managing Director of the MozYouth Foundation, highlights the relevance of the partnership with the bank, one of the founder members of the initiative, alongside Hollard Mozambique and MozParks. "FNB has opened its doors for 15 young people to learn a practical understanding of essential banking functions. After this experience, the interns may apply for available positions at the bank, should opportunities arise. But even if they are not hired, thebanking experience will be a significant differentiator for their future careers,", Pedroemphasizes.

FNB's Structure to Host Interns: Challenges and Overcomings

The implementation of this internship program represents an important milestone for FNB. According to Melba Jorge, "It is a great responsibility to welcome these young people in the best possible way, and our HR structure is now ready to handle this great challenge." With the creation of a team dedicated to talent management and skill development (Learning and Development - L&D), the bank currently has a solid strategy to ensure the efficient management of the internship program. "We are ready. The team is trained, and we have the capacity to provide an authentic training experience to all young people who will be part of our teams and the FNB family," added Nhamithambo.

The internship program not only benefits the young interns but also represents an important step in strengthening HR in Mozambique. By investing in the training of new professionals, FNB contributes to the building of a qualified talent pool. "Seeing Mozambican young people preparing for leadership positions in the banking sector is extremely rewarding, whether at FNB or other institutions," said Nhamitambo.

The collaboration between FNB Mozambique and the MozYouth Foundation is, therefore, a "clear example of how the private sector can collaborate with social organizations to promote economic and social development in Mozambique." By investing in the training of young professionals, FNB aims to actively contribute to strengthening skills in the banking sector, as well as to the sustainable economic development of Mozambique.