World Bank’s Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy launched in Nairobi

The program, under a partnership with the Government of Kenya, is set to run from September 30 to October 3, 2025 to provide a platform for joint learning, evidence sharing, and employers’ collaboration in key sectors.

Nearly 70% of young people globally are either unemployed or stuck in low-quality jobs. In Africa, over 12 million youth enter the labor force annually, competing for 3 million formal jobs. 

Education and training systems remain underfunded and disorganized, with outdated curriculum and weak industry’s connection. Thus, the continent faces a widening gap between youth potential and labor market demands.

The program also aims to help African policymakers diagnose the jobs and skills challenge, align skills to growth sectors, forge public-private partnerships and scale effective models. It will also focus on mobilizing finance, drive policy action and build a network of skilled-driven professionals.

Under the Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy, over 250 participants will be drawn from over 25 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa and from major sectors and groups. 

These include the Ministries of Finance, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ministries, regulatory agencies, and leaders, agribusiness, energy, health, manufacturing, and tourism sectors leaders and teams across Task Team Leaders (TTLs) from Education, Social Protection and Labor (SPL), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other Global Practices including energy, agriculture, and health. 

Mary Porter Peschka, Regional Director for IFC Eastern Africa at the World Bank Group, expressed pride in supporting the Academy to help bridge the gap between education and employment and ensure training systems align with market demands. She further highlighted the pride in hosting in Nairobi- ‘a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent’.

“Solving the jobs challenge requires collaboration; between governments, educators, and the private sector,” she stated. “As someone who works closely with private sector partners across East Africa, I’ve seen firsthand how industry-led training programs can transform lives and communities.

Esther Thaara Muoria, Principal Secretary State Department for TVET, said the launch aims to address the critical role of TVET in skills development, job creation, and youth empowerment for sustainable national and continental growth.

“There is a dire need for Africa to join hands to recognize and promote TVET as a key driver and catalyst for industrialization for Africa’s economic growth,” she stated.

“Africa needs to transform its TVET system and make it more responsive, agile and aligned with the demands of the modern market economy.”

On his part, Ndiamé Diop, the Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa at Wrld Bank said the program seeks to turn Africa’s fast-growing workforce into an engine of competitiveness and shared prosperity.

“Skills are the bridge to transformation. Economies cannot move from subsistence farming to modern agrifood, from small retail to scalable services, or into competitive manufacturing and digital industries without stronger skills systems,” said Diop. 

The launch was also attended by Julius Migos Ogamba, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education (MoE), Kenya, Mamta Murthi, Vice President (People), World Bank Group, Andrew Dabalen, Chief Economist, Africa Region, World Bank Group, Ndiame Diop, Regional Vice President, Eastern and Southern Africa Region, World Bank Group.