Africa unites to transform skills and apprenticeships

MOMBASA, Kenya (ILO News) – The 2nd Regional Conference on Quality Skills and Apprenticeships in Africa, organized by the Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network (SASASNET) and Kenya’s Ministry of Labour and Skills Development, received strong support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Participants included government officials, employers and workers’ organizations, informal sector actors, Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) providers, youth leaders, and development partners.

At the heart of the discussions was the Mombasa Declaration, which calls for recognizing the informal sector as a key driver of economic growth. It urges African Union member states to promote transitions to formality through quality skills and apprenticeships, investing in structured apprenticeships, recognizing skills, co-designing training with employers, and meaningfully engaging youth. Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Continental Chairperson of SASASNET, highlighted the importance of quality skills and apprenticeships in transitioning from informal to formal systems.

SASASNET is poised to play a crucial role in developing, coordinating, and implementing strategies aimed at achieving quality skills and apprenticeship systems.

Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Continental Chairperson of SASASNET

Dr. Martha Phiri, Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB), reiterated the Bank's commitment to developing a skilled workforce and creating opportunities for youth employment.

The SASASNET initiative needs to be supported to realize these objectives in Africa

Dr. Martha Phiri, Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB)

Christine Hofmann, Senior Regional Skills Specialist at the ILO Regional Office for Africa and Manager of the ILO's Africa Skills Hub, emphasized the ILO's dedication to collaborating with SASASNET. 

Africa needs strong networks like SASASNET. The ILO is committed to supporting SASASNET and its members in advancing inclusive and effective skills development and apprenticeship systems across Africa.

Christine Hofmann, Senior Regional Skills Specialist at the ILO Regional Office for Africa and Manager of the ILO's Africa Skills Hub 

The ILO’s international labour standards on Transitions from the Informal to the Formal Economy (R204), and on Quality Apprenticeships (R208) provide the guiding framework for countries.  

© ILO

From left to right: Stephen Muchiri-ILO PROSPECTS, Grace Kaome-FKE, Christine Hofmann-ILO ROAF, Isaac Muema-ILO PPDP 

The conference highlighted how important it is for countries in the region to work together to improve apprenticeship opportunities, especially in the informal economy. It helped shift the way people think about apprenticeships; recognizing the value of local traditions, building on their strengths, finding new ways to improve them, and ensuring they become a recognized part of national training and education systems. 

 The ILO's support for the SASASNET Regional Conference reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting inclusive skills and lifelong learning for decent work and social justice in Africa.