14th African Regional Meeting

Skills, Technological Pathways and Productivity for a Brighter Future of Work in Africa



Panelists

Cissé Mariama Mohamed
Director of Social Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC)

Ignatius Baffour Awuah
Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ghana

Aissatou Ba-Okotie
Chief Business Development Coordinator in the Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department, AfDB

Andrew Rugege
ITU (International Telecommunications Union) Regional Director for Africa, Addis Ababa

Vida Nassari
VIAX, Tanzania

Mothunye Mothiba
PAPA (Pan African Productivity Association)

Moderator

Nozipho Mbanjwa

Overview

The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work calls for actions of the ILO members to promote effective lifelong learning and quality education for all, setting a roadmap for the actions of the ILO members. Against the backdrop of this heightened momentum and expectations for skills and lifelong learning, this session invites the panelists to share their perspectives on Skills, Technological Pathways and Productivity for a Brighter Future of Work in Africa, in a broader context of mega-drivers of change sweeping through the region and beyond.

The panelists will discuss skills challenges and skills development implications of accessing and adapting new technologies and innovation, linkages with productivity enhancement, employability and inclusive growth in translating regional trade openness into more and better jobs.

The panel will be addressing some of the following issues and questions:
  1. What will the future of work look like in key strategic priority sectors in African context? Which technologies are relevant to these priority sectors? What skills are needed for the Future of Work in these sectors?
  2. How to bridge the digital divide and promote skills for digital economy in Africa? How to leapfrog in providing access to new technologies for Africa to boost the jobs and skills agenda?
  3. How to bring the world of work and the world of education together to reduce skills mismatch?
  4. How to make Skills Development inclusive to benefit all people? What can be done to avoid gender stereotypes and promote equal opportunities for women and men to access skills development opportunities for all jobs, particularly new technology jobs?
  5. How can countries develop the skills needed for benefiting from trade potential, including the African Continental Free Trade Area? What specific measures should countries take?
  6. How can countries operationalize productivity enhancements in order to increase not only enterprise competitiveness but to reposition their economies in becoming more attractive to foreign direct investment?
  7. The effects of “brain drain” (through migration or virtually) on local economies in Africa. What should African countries do to manage the challenges of brain drain, and promote jobs and skills development opportunities in local economies?