What: 1^st Africa Skills Week

Theme: “Skills and Jobs for the 21^st Century: Quality Skills Development for Sustainable Employability in Africa”

A Skills INDABA within the Framework of the AU Year of Education 2024.

Highlights for the Media:

The Opening Ceremony will feature Keynote addresses from distinguished speakers, including:

• E. Nana Akufo Addo President of the Republic of Ghana
• E. Dr. Yaw Osei Aduntwum – Minister of Education, Ghana
• E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, African Union Commission (AUC)
• E. Mr. Owen Nxumalo Minister of Education and Training – Kingdom of Eswatini
• Hon Sarjoh Aziz Kamara - Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education
• Ministers from the STC-EST Bureau

When: 14^th – 18^th October 2024

Where: The Palms Conventions Center, Accra, Ghana

Who: The Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) AUC, AUDA- NEPAD, and the Government of the Republic of Ghana.

Why:

Africa's journey towards economic prosperity is heavily reliant on the integration of education and opportunities, as highlighted by the Continental Education Strategy (CESA 2016-2025) and the Continental Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy. These strategies emphasize the critical link between education, skill development, and job creation. Africa Skills Week (ASW) aligns with CESA's goals by fostering collaboration and innovation in skills development and employment across the continent. The event supports the African Union's 2024 theme of "building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa". By prioritizing skills development, the AU and its partners aim to unlock the potential of Africa's youth, driving sustainable economic growth and social inclusion across the continent.

The ASW is particularly significant in supporting the African Union's 2024 theme of "Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa” with the aim of catalyzing action towards improving systems, processes, and policies to drive a transformation agenda in skills development on the Continent. By prioritizing skills development, the AU and its partners will aim to unlock the potential of Africa's youth and drive sustainable economic growth and social inclusion across the continent. 

Objectives:

The main objectives of the Africa Skills Week are follows:

• Raise awareness about the significance of skills development in enhancing employability, entrepreneurship, and economic resilience in Africa.
• Facilitate the exchange of best practices, innovative approaches, and successful initiatives in skills development among stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
• Provide a platform for policymakers, educators, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue on policies and strategies to strengthen African skills development ecosystems. The spotlight will be on The Continental Strategy forTVETto collectively identify and define the anchoring mechanisms to facilitate the Strategy’s institutionalization at Member State and Continental levels.
• Promote jobs and empower young people by equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive in the rapidly evolving job market and contribute to Africa's sustainable development.
• Foster partnerships and collaboration among governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and international development partners to support African skills development initiatives.

Expected Outcomes:

• It has enhanced awareness and understanding of the importance of transforming skills development systems in Africa's socio-economic development.
• It has increased collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders to support skills development.
• Policy recommendations and actionable strategies to strengthen skills development ecosystems in Africa.
• Commitments from stakeholders to implement and support the agreed-upon solutions in relation to overall aspects of the TVET and Skills Ecosystem

KEY ACTIVITIES:

• High-Level Opening Session: The Conference will convene a high-level opening session featuring Government officials from the Host Country, Senior officials of the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD, and other Partner Organizations.
• Policy Dialogues/Peer Learning Forums: Africa Skills Week will bring together policymakers, practitioners, employers, development partners, civil society organizations and the youth to discuss policy priorities, challenges, and opportunities in skills development.
• Thematic Workshops and Seminars: Partners are invited to contribute to the sessions focusing on key themes such as TVET Governance, digitalization, TVET In Fragile Context, Apprenticeship, Entrepreneurship, Migration, green skills, and inclusive TVET. The sessions will feature presentations, panel discussions, and interactive discussions.
• Skills Exhibition: The skills week will Showcase innovative projects, technologies, and initiatives in skills development through a virtual or physical exhibition, providing participants with hands-on experiences and networking opportunities. An awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements in skills development through the Innovating Education in Africa 2024
• Youth Summit: The Skills Week will engage young people through youth-led sessions, competitions, hackathons, and career fairs, designed to inspire, empower, and connect them with mentors and opportunities for skills development and employment. (Youth Pavilion)
• Study Tour: A visit/learning journey(s) will be organized to specific skills development institutions and/or industries for participants to learn first-hand from the experience of their peers how a challenge was solved, or solutions implemented.
• Country-Level Action to commemorate the Week: These will be skills development and employment-focused actions in the Member States to celebrate the week. The African Union and Member States shall map country-level actions, and the Member States are encouraged to share details of country-focused events.

Participants:

The ASW is expected to draw the participation of African Ministers responsible for TVET and other relevant ministries, Heads of International Development Institutions, The Regional Economic Communities and the private sector, academia, the youth, and technical institutions.

For Further Information: Kindly Contact:

Mr. Chigozie Emmanuel Okonkwo | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| Email: OkonkwoC@africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Hiba Mohamed |Advocacy Officer| Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| E-mail: hibae@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2. Maqhawe Freedom Thwala | Digital Communications Officer | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| E-mail: ThwalaM@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
3. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org