Using occupational standards as an enabler for economic growth and development

According to African Development Bank (2016), Africa has the youngest population in the world with more than 400 million young people aged between ages 15-35 years. This population is projected to reach 664 million people by 2030 of whom approximately 50% are women. With such a youthful population, an increase in investment in economic and social development factors is needed to improve the development index of African nations. However, Africa faces a significant challenge of a mismatch between the skills available in the labour market and the demands of the economy. This gap is heavily concentrated among girls and women, who often lack the requirements for decent employment.

In response to these challenges, the African Union (AU) declared 2024 as the Year of Education, under the theme “Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.” This declaration aims to mobilize governments and development partners to rethink education and skills development models suitable for the 21st century.

The Africa 2063 Agenda aspires to a prosperous continent with inclusive growth and sustainable development which will be achieved through well-educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by Science, Technology and Innovation. Africa has constantly skilled young people but still struggles with producing the necessary skills needed to increase employability and employment. There is a need to change the skilling strategy to address skills gaps and align labour market demands with skills supply. Employability is based on a combination of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for successful job performance. Thus, the emphasis should shift from qualifications to occupations and skills, directly linking supply and demand to improve employability, productivity, and economic growth. To address this, it’s necessary to have a Continental Occupational Standards Framework.

In line with this AUDA-NEPAD together with a diverse range of stakeholders including Don Bosco Tech Africa represented by the Deputy Director, Br. John Njuguna convened a workshop on July 11-12, 2024 in Gaborone Botswana. The purpose of the workshop was to initiate the development process Africa Occupational Standards Framework. The goal was to have a comprehensive discussion about the need, feasibility and rationale of establishing an African Occupational Standards Framework (AOSF). The establishment of the AOSF is essential as it would enhance collaboration between public and private sectors, improve the alignment of labour market needs with occupational requirements, and strengthen training and learning programs. Additionally, this framework would also support quality assurance, benchmarking, and innovation, creating a responsive and agile skills and employment system to address high youth unemployment.