52nd Session of the Economic Commission for Africa, Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development

SIDE EVENT ON

"Planning for tomorrow’s workforce: is Africa ready? "

Orangeraie, Palmeraie Golf Palace, Marrakech, Morocco

Jointly organized by the secretariat of the Economic Commission for Africa, its Subregional Office for North Africa, African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, Policy Center for the New South, and the High Commission for Planning of Morocco.

Background

The future of work and skills shift are gaining increased attention at international, regional and national levels. Globalization, technological breakthrough, demography and climate change are having a profound impact on labour markets, affecting the quantity and quality of future jobs. Africa cannot afford to miss (and does not need to miss) these technologically driven transformational opportunities, because the population of Africa is younger than that of any other region globally. About 60 per cent of the population in Africa is under 25 years of age and an estimated 10 to 15 million young people join the labour market every year. Accordingly, the continent has a demographic dividend that can propel and sustain its transformation. To capitalize on that fact, there must be both an adequate enabling environment and visionary leaders at all levels, not only in politics. Africa needs leaders who will support excellence in training and education in order to respond to evolving future labour market requirements; empower the confident and curious young generation ready to compete globally and create a whole new economic ecosystem; and embrace change and think exponentially. There is an urgent need to reorganize the education and training systems to keep up with the new demands of the labour markets that are continually challenged by technological disruption, demographic change, shifting business models and the evolving nature of work.

Objective

The main objective of this dialogue is to provide a platform for critical thinking on the relevance of African education and training systems in an evolving, digital and knowledge-based economy, and to encourage exchanges of views from different outlooks and opportunities for Africa to respond to the future of work.

Expected outcomes

- Increased awareness about the skills mismatch across society and the economy and the provision of a platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration to close the skills gap and prepare for the future of work;

- Identification of policy, research, and best practices and ways to improve interdisciplinary action on skills mismatch and skills for decent work and entrepreneurship;

- Focused proposals and innovative strategies for planning for the future workforce with support from the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning.

Target audience

    • Government officials;

    • Worker and employer organizations;

    • International organizations;

    • Researchers from academia and think tanks;

    • The private sector;

    • Civil society organizations;

    • Participants of the Conference of Ministers who are involved in planning for future jobs.

For further information, please contact:

Mustapha Sadni Jallab

Head of Training and Research

Department African Institute for Economic Development and Planning and the Economic Commission for Africa

Email: sadnijallab@un.org

Tel.: +221 33 829 5510

Tayeb Ghazi

Economist

Policy Center for the New South

Email: tayeb.ghazi@ocppc.ma 

Tel.: +212 67 180 0298