Addis Ababa ,7th February 2019 -The Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) together with World Skills International (WSI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) after the Opening Ceremony of the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council at the AUC Headquarters to officially mark the partnership for the future. The signing of the MOU between the AUC and WSI is part of the World Skills Vision 2025 which recognizes Africa as an important region wherein World Skills will work with Members, Global Partners, and other international (development) organizations on increasing the access to and improving the quality of skills development and employability for youth.
The MOU is in line with Agenda 2063 to speed up actions in Catalyzing Education and Skills revolution by strengthening the technical and vocational education and training through scaled up investments and the establishment of a pool of high-quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers across Africa. This is in addition to forging of greater links with industry and alignment to labour markets.
The implementation of the MOU is expected to enhance African Union Commission’s quest to improve the skills profile, employability and entrepreneurship potentials especially of youth and women and also closing the skills gap across the continent. The Specialized Technical Committee on Education Science and Technology (STC-EST) also endorsed the Creation of World Skills Africa as a programme geared towards addressing skills shortages, mismatches and enhancing employment prospects for youth in Africa.
Anchored on the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Strategy which are key to enhancing the economic development and prospects of young people in Africa, the MOU to be signed seeks to create a partnership that will help to achieve both organizations’ visions and goals.
In accordance with the provisions set forth, the AUC and WSI will cooperate to implement a joint work program for the execution of activities set out in the MOU. Some of the core deliverables the MOU is set to achieve include:
• An annual Sub-regional Skills Competition
• To conduct research on skills level, development condition, labour market of the targeted countries/regions, and potential partners that could support relevant projects/programmes
• To maximize networking opportunities for multilateral partnerships, promote AU-WSI partnership and work.
• A skills showcase at the Southern/Eastern Africa Skills competition
• To expand on the experience of the first Eastern Africa regional skills competition held in 2017 to attract more partners and countries to focus on skills development.
• And based on the concept of BeChangeMaker, to encourage more young people consider social entrepreneurism as a career option through an online entrepreneurial training programme.
H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology pronounces that “the partnership between WSI and HRST is a strategic imperative for the Commission as it cements the organizations’ transformative values and position in sustainable development through investments in youth” She adds that “skills can transform the economic landscape of the continent and create new industries as well as diversify those industries that currently exist in an economic landscape that is confronted by a lack of jobs”.
Media enquiries:
Mr. Kholekile Mnisi: Communications Officer- AUC Youth Division
Email: mnisik@africa-union.org; Tel +251 953148149
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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