Don Bosco Tech Africa (DBTA) held a strategic engagement with Kenya’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network (SASASNET) on 6 November 2026 at its Nairobi office. The meeting explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration in skills development, digitalisation, apprenticeship and regional cooperation.
Discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening informal apprenticeship systems and creating pathways for recognising competencies gained through workplace-based and informal learning. Participants also explored how digital technologies can improve access to training, skills assessment and certification, while strengthening the alignment between skills development and labour market demands.
Several strategic priority areas for collaboration emerged from the engagement. These include digital TVET infrastructure through the Don Bosco Virtual Training Institute (DBVTI), Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), digital credentials and micro-credentials, labour market information systems, knowledge management and sharing of good practices, regional qualifications recognition, and skills mobility across the continent. The discussions also highlighted opportunities to strengthen training in high-demand vocational areas, such as welding, in response to emerging workforce needs.
DBTA’s experience in supporting TVET institutions across Africa, alongside its digital learning infrastructure and competency-based training approaches, provides a foundation for contributing to these priorities. A key proposal from the meeting was to facilitate the official launch of DBVTI through SASASNET before January 2027. The proposed launch would introduce the platform to SASASNET’s wider network, demonstrate its digital learning capabilities and provide an opportunity to explore partnerships in online training and regional skills development.
The meeting brought together Br. John Ngigi, DBTA Programme Manager and Deputy Director, Matthews Wafula, Faith Munyalo and Beatrice Muya from Don Bosco Tech Africa. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection was represented by Dr. Wanjiru Kariuki, Secretary for Skills Development, SASASNET was represented by Mr. Nyamai Wambua, Deputy Country Focal Person, and Eng. Patricia Musangi, who focuses on digitalisation, while Mr. Geofrey Ngui represented Don Bosco Development Outreach Network.
The engagement provided an opportunity to identify areas of mutual interest and explore how government, professional networks and TVET institutions can work together to strengthen skills development, improve employability and support greater recognition of skills and qualifications across Africa.
