INTRODUCTION:

1. Africa is expected to have five of the ten fastest-developing economies in the world by 2024, with an average GDP growth rate of 3.5%. Africa's growth rate is expected to exceed the 3.1% global growth projection by 2025, reaching a 4.0% growth rate, in contrast to the 3.2% global growth forecast. The demographic dividend of the continent's growing working-age population, which is predicted to triple by 2050 and makeup 86% of the entire worldwide rise, can further enhance development prospects. African nations are creating an unparalleled talent pool as their expanding population becomes more educated. The goal of the African Union is to improve the educational and career opportunities for Africa's youth labor population. The core of it is the development of skills as called for in its blueprint Agenda 2063.
2. Increasing both the quantity and quality of skill development that corresponds with employment opportunities will be essential to driving Africa's economy toward a constructive transformation. More than one-fourth of young Africans were unemployed, underemployed, or not in school or training in 2022 (NEET). If every African child achieved basic skill levels, Africa's GDP might expand by around USD 154 trillion before the end of the century, more than 22-fold, larger than any other area in the world.
3. It is in that regard that the African Union Commission, Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, and its partners are organizing the Africa Skills Week aligning with the theme of the Year of Transforming Education 2024. The event addresses the pressing need to equip Africa's youth with relevant skills to thrive in an ever-changing economy. By focusing on the theme “Skills and Jobs for the 21^st Century: Quality Skills Development for Sustainable Employability in Africa," the week will bring together stakeholders from both the supply and demand sides of the labour market to discuss challenges and opportunities in enhancing youth skills and employability across the continent, acknowledging the importance of prioritizing transformative actions in education as part of the broader goal of empowering Africa's youthful population. Emphasizing collaboration and integrating various work streams undertaken by Skills Development stakeholders, aligning with outcome 4, 5, 9 and 10, outlined in the concept note and roadmap of the Africa’s Year of Education 2024. Country-level actions are also expected to be undertaken across the continent to commemorate Africa Skills Week 2024.

RATIONALE FOR THE AFRICA SKILLS WEEK:

4. Africa's journey towards economic prosperity relies heavily on integrating education and skills development with opportunities, a principle underscored by the Continental Education Strategy (CESA 2016-2025), the Continental TVET Strategy and the SDG4. 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.
5. 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 catalysing 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.
6. Furthermore, the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of the African Union has called for a skills revolution underpinned by Science Technology and Innovation, The AUC will therefore institutionalize the Africa Skills Week as part of the initiatives to drive this Agenda.

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE AFRICA SKILLS WEEK:

• 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 for TVET to 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.

WHO WILL ATTEND?

The ASW is expected to draw the participation of African ministers responsible for TVET and other relevant ministries and heads of international development institutions, regional economic communities, the private sector, academia, youth, and technical institutions.

LANGUAGES FOR SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION:

Official Opening Day: English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese

Other Days: English and French