NAIROBI, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank and the Inter-University Council for East Africa on Tuesday launched the Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy program designed to boost employment opportunities on the continent.
Ndiame Diop, vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa at the World Bank, said in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that the initiative provides an opportunity for governments, the private sector, and development partners to deliver practical solutions that will equip African youth with the skills needed for jobs in growth sectors.
"Every year, 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, but only about 3 million formal jobs are created. That gap pushes millions into informality or leaves them out altogether," Diop said.
The three-day event, organized in partnership with the Kenyan government and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, brought together 250 participants from more than 20 countries, including senior policymakers, private sector leaders, and World Bank experts.
Diop noted that African youth need job-specific technical skills to succeed in sectors with enormous potential, such as the agri-food value chains, tourism, energy, and digital platforms.
The organizers said the academy will focus on tangible ways to reform technical and vocational education and training (TVET), seen as a critical tool for closing the skills gap that restricts youth employment across the continent.
Esther Thaara Muoria, principal secretary for Kenya's State Department for TVET within the Ministry of Education, said there is a dire need for Africa to join hands in recognizing and promoting skills development as a key driver and catalyst for Africa's industrialization and economic growth.
Mary Porter Peschka, regional director for Eastern Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), noted that across the region, firms consistently cite skills shortages as a top constraint to hiring and expansion.
The IFC is supporting the academy to help bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that training systems are aligned with market needs, Peschka added. ■
