Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 4 May 2016: The Human Resources, Science and Technology department (HRST) hosted a technical workshop on the Skills Initiative for Africa. The participants included representatives from the various AUC departments and German International Cooperation (GIZ).The need for a skills initiative was discussed by the Chairperson of the African Union, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation, Dr Müller in 2015, reflecting the concern of both leaders about the lack of perspectives for many young people in Africa.

The Initiative has been developed through partnership between AUC the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Other key partners for the implementation of the Initiative will be NEPAD, as well as the German implementing agencies German Development Bank (KfW) and German International Cooperation (GIZ). This is with particular added value of its continental and regional dimension and the sharing of lessons learnt among AU member states.

In recognizing the growing problem of youth unemployment as a major socio-economic development concern on the African continent, many African countries have identified Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as key to solving these challenges and have put TVET on the top of their political agendas.

At the opening the Head of Education and acting Youth Division, Dr Beatrice Njenga, spoke of how stereotypes in skills is hampering development in Africa. She added that, the skills initiative is meant to ensure that young people in Africa are appropriately skilled.

The skills initiative is supposed to effectively contribute to creating new perspectives through increased employment and income opportunities for young people in Africa. Its particular added value is its continental and regional dimension and the sharing of lessons learnt among AU Member States.

For more information please contact:

Ms Pamela Charidza, Youth Policy Technical Officer, Youth Division, Department of Human Resources Science and Technology

Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission

Tel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia