Coca-Cola Beverages Africa helps 50 women and youth grow businesses in Manica

Small businesses remain a key source of income for many communities across Africa, but limited access to business skills, financing knowledge and start-up resources often prevents entrepreneurs from reaching their full potential. 

In Mozambique’s Manica province, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) is working to address some of these challenges by helping women and young entrepreneurs develop the skills needed to start and grow small businesses. 

Through its Women and Youth Empowerment and Valuation Initiative (VEMJ), CCBA recently trained 50 entrepreneurs in Chimoio, providing practical lessons in business management, sales, marketing and financial planning. 

The programme is part of the company’s wider effort to support local economic activity by equipping informal traders and emerging business owners with tools that can help them improve their businesses and increase their income opportunities. 

The latest training in Manica follows similar programmes held in Matola-Gare, Nampula, Beira, Gaza and Inhambane, expanding CCBA Mozambique’s entrepreneurship support across different communities.

Training provides practical tools for entrepreneurs 

During the two-day programme, participants learned how to manage daily business operations, attract customers, plan finances and make better decisions for long-term sustainability. 

After completing the training, participants received start-up kits containing cooler boxes, parasols and initial product stock to help them begin or expand their commercial activities. 

“People are at the centre of everything we do, including the entrepreneurs who are part of our route to market,” said Neyde Pires, CCBA Mozambique’s Public Relations, Communication and Sustainability Director.

Supporting local communities through business development 

CCBA said the initiative reflects its commitment to creating shared value by investing in skills development, supporting livelihoods and working with communities where it operates. 

“Through initiatives like this, we are helping to create opportunities, develop skills and support income generation in the communities we call home,” Pires said. 

Abel Henriques de Albuquerque, Provincial Director of the Provincial Service of Justice and Labour, said entrepreneurship remains important for job creation and economic development in Manica.

“Every young person who creates a business does not only generate their own income, but also contributes to the creation of new jobs, stimulates the local economy and strengthens the development of our province,” he said.

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa 

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) is one of Africa’s largest Coca-Cola bottlers, producing, distributing and selling beverages across several markets on the continent.

The company works with suppliers, retailers and communities to support local economic activity and strengthen its value chain. 

A representative of the trainees thanked CCBA Mozambique for investing in entrepreneurship training and supporting women and young people seeking to build businesses in their communities.