African Union: World Skills Africa Swakopmund 2022, 28 March - 2 April

WorldSkills Africa Swakopmund 2022 (WSAS2022) is a three-tier event to promote Skills Development in the 21st Century for Sustainable Economic Growth and African Ownership. It includes a Skills Competition, a Careers Exhibition, and a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) Conference.  

The event is organized by African Union through the Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) Department, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in partnership with World Skills International and the German International Cooperation (GIZ) through the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) programme, which is a programme of the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD with the European Union (EU) and Government of Germany, and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)

Key speakers

• Hon. Neville Andre Itope Governor – Erongo Region
• H.E, Professor Mohamed Belhocine - Commissioner: Education, Science, Technology & Innovation, African Union Commission
• H.E, Sinikka Antilla European Ambassador to Namibia WorldSkills International Message Mr. Chris Humphries President – WorldSkills International Competitors & Experts Oath RT Hon Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila Prime Minister, Republic of Namibia
• H.E, Dr. Hage G. Geingob President, Republic of Namibia

Among other topics and acknowledgements, the speech delivered by the ESTI Commissioner, H.E. Belhocine, particularly emphasized "the crucial importance of skills for the transformation of Africa into a modern and powerful continent".  

The Commissioner highlighted "the rapid population growth, which can transform the continent's development into a demographic dividend, if strategic investments are made to empower and change the lives of young people". He stressed "the need (indeed the urgency) to empower them to participate in the economic life of the continent". He recalled that "the AU's Continental Agenda 2063, on inclusive and sustainable economic development, speaks of a skills revolution supported by education, skills and training". And that 2 strategic documents have been adopted in this regard: the CESA 2016-2025 and the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. He drew the attention to another strategic challenge, namely the risk of disruption of North-South solidarity and cooperation mechanisms due to factors such as the COVID 19 pandemic.   

Download the whole speech

The TVET Conference is to offer an excellent engagement platform for policymakers, industry, and TVET experts. Local, regional and international TVET experts are to engage conferencegoers by means of topical presentations as per the themes hereunder. The overarching purpose of presentations is to generate knowledge, share experiences, benchmark, and innovate.

Source and more: 

https://au.int/en/newsevents/20220328/world-skills-africa-swakopmund-2022


For direct information :
Ms. Faith Adhiambo | Communications Officer, Agenda 2063 | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 115 517 700 | ochiengj[at]africa-union.org