Hundreds of energy workers in Mozambique are benefitting thanks to a collaboration between the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and training organisation Ascending.
The company works with ECITB Global, the international arm of the industry-led skills body in Great Britain, to deliver safety and competency schemes in the East African country.
Ascending, an ECITB Global Licensed Training Provider, delivers the International Health and Safety Passport (IHSP) and International Competence: Engineering Construction (ICE) scheme to workers in Mozambique’s energy industries.
As well as delivering training in Portugal, Angola and Guyana, Ascending operates three certified training facilities in Mozambique with the mission of “improving lives and organisations”.
Ricardo Martins, who is Head of Ascending Academy Global, said: “Our aim is to help raise safety standards and develop competent professionals in Mozambique ready to operate in high-risk environments.
“We don’t just deliver training – we build capability, develop careers and create real opportunities on a global scale. Every certification achieved is more than a milestone; it’s proof that investment in skills transforms lives and strengthens industries.
“Through our collaboration with leading organisations such as ECITB Global, we ensure that our trainees gain internationally recognised qualifications that open doors across the energy and engineering sectors.”
The International Health and Safety Passport (IHSP) is a globally recognised health and safety scheme developed from the CCNSG Safety Passport, which is the UK’s engineering construction industry (ECI) safety card.
Ascending delivers the one-day IHSP Foundation course, which is suitable for all site staff and is used by contractors as a minimum health and safety requirement on numerous large-scale projects.
It recently partnered with MozUp, an organisation that works under the umbrella of ExxonMobil, to put workers on the Rovuma liquified natural gas (LNG) project through the Foundation course in Mozambique.
Executive Director Filipe Francisco, Ascending’s country manager for Mozambique, said: “The IHSP is an international certification recognised over the world, so it is great to have a partner like ECITB that give us that credibility when it comes to health and safety.”
Ricardo added: “The course is more than just a certification, it is the first step towards building a strong safety culture, empowering individuals to identify risks, prevent incidents and contribute to safer workplaces every day.”
Delivering the IHSP opens up opportunities for learners at Ascending to achieve competency qualifications in different trades through ECITB Global’s ICE scheme.
ICE is a global engineering construction industry card that helps employees demonstrate their ability to carry out work to the required level of competence.
Ascending, for example, certifies welders through the ICE scheme, such as two competitors that excelled at the inaugural Welding Olympics event created and organised by Talento in the capital Maputo in September 2025. The event, which was attended by 153 people, had the objective of promoting technical and vocational education.
Ascending was one of the event sponsors, along with ExxonMobil, and awarded the top participants across two categories the chance to complete the ECITB ICE Level 2 Welding qualification.
António Agostinho Manjate, 27, who has eight years of experience in welding, came out first in the trainer/professional category after representing mechanical and industrial engineering firm Duys Mozambique.
“Participating in the Welding Olympics was a great opportunity,” he said. “Through passion, hard work and dedication, I managed to stand out among many highly skilled professionals.
“The event led to me fulfilling one of my greatest professional dreams of obtaining internationally recognised qualifications through Ascending and ECITB, getting welding ICE Level 2 and International Health and Safety Passport certifications.”
Ascending is hoping to certify more welders from the event in 2026 after taking a more hands-on role and delivering training to competitors from one of its facilities in Pemba.
Filipe said: “We want this event to become even bigger and more impactful. Having the ECITB supporting us with certifications and with insight of what more we can do for these candidates is invaluable.”
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