WorldSkills Africa, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to advancing vocational education and skills development across the African continent, is set to launch on the margins of the upcoming 37th Assemby of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union. The launch coincides with the official African Union theme of the Year 2024, “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa,” reflecting a significant commitment to youth empowerment, economic advancement, and skills excellence.
This follows the decision of the 4th Specialised Technical Committee of the Ministers of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (2022), which called for the revamp of TVET systems on the continent to boost employability, inclusiveness, competitiveness, and socio-economic growth. The decision further tasked the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), in its capacity as the implementing agency of the African Union to establish the WorldSkills Africa Desk, as a platform to showcase skills excellence on the continent.
Aligned with the aspirations of Agenda 2063, the launch of WorldSkills Africa stands as a testament to the continent’s commitment to achieving sustainable development and inclusive growth. Agenda 2063, a visionary framework for Africa’s future and our aspiration for the Africa We Want, encompasses seven aspirations designed to unlock the continent’s potential by 2063. WorldSkills Africa aligns itself closely with Aspiration 6, focusing on empowering African youth and ensuring inclusivity. Through skills development and vocational training, WorldSkills Africa contributes directly to the transformation of education and skills systems, fostering prosperity, unity, and the realization of the full potential of Africa’s women and youth. In this regard, WorldSkills Africa aims to rally Member States participation as part of the flagship initiatives to drive transformative systems change in TVET in commemoration of the African Union theme of the Year on education.
Aspiration Alignment
Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. Goal aligned to WSAfrica: Well-educated citizens and skills revolutions underpinned by science, technology, and innovation developing Africa’s human and social capital.
Aspiration 3: An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law.Goals aligned to WSAfrica: Capable institutions and transformed leadership, building strong institutions for a development state, and facilitating visionary leadership.
Aspiration 6: An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth. Goals aligned to WSAfrica: Engaged and empowered youth and children, creating opportunities for self-realization, access to health, education, and jobs, ensuring safety and security, and providing for early childhood development.
Through participation in regional skills competitions, Member States will build the competencies needed to effectively engage and benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and industralisation drive.
Africa and Vocational Training
Africa, home to the world’s youngest population with 60% under the age of 25, possesses unmatched potential. However, the continent faces challenges in harnessing this potential, particularly in promoting vocational training. Spearheaded by the African Union and AUDA-NEPAD, WorldSkills Africa aims to address these challenges by empowering African youth to pursue personal and economic fulfilment and improving linkages between TVET and industry, aligning it with labor market needs, and raising the profile of TVET.
WorldSkills Africa Value Propositions
WorldSkills Africa offers a range of value propositions, including advocating for TVET as a vital route to economic growth, providing insights on TVET transformation, supporting regional standards harmonization, engaging the private sector, enhancing skills trainers’ capabilities, offering exposure to young Africans, facilitating skills excellence, promoting professional growth, advancing skills portability, and championing inclusivity.
Join WSAfrica
All African Union Member States are invited to join WorldSkills Africa and embark on a transformative journey to empower Africa’s economy. By becoming a member, stakeholders gain access global skills competitions and to a platform of innovation, best practices, and collaborative learning, ensuring they are at the forefront of skills development and educational excellence in Africa.
