Common Futures

Employment
While several segmented initiatives on the use of ICT for skills exist in Africa,
those relatively large enough, either isolated or as part of larger initiatives, are
few – despite the need to reach high numbers.
To better equip young people to ensure their full potential for development is
explored, there is a dire need to change how things have been done in the past,
to integrate new and better ways of doing things and to seek new collaborative
endeavours between the two regions, addressing common challenges. Two
(out of the many) pathways that show high potential are leveraging on
Information Communication Technology (ICTs) for skills development and
training, and revamping of vocational training across Africa.
ICTs and skills training for increasing youth
employability
According to the Networked Readiness Index Report 2015 (NRI), an index
from the World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report, 3
less than seven African countries featured in the top 100 in terms of the
environment for ICT, and the readiness and use of ICT in various sectors within
the country. 4 Despite this, the role of ICTs in business, entrepreneurship and
provision of government services is well recognised in many African countries.
In some countries like Kenya, the government has taken the initiative to
promote ICT as a key driver of economic growth, through the promotion of
broader industrial growth and creation of employment in the country.
However, for a region with a high mismatch between skills required by the
job market and outcomes of the formal education system, the role of ICT
in imparting up-to-date skills and training has not been adequately explored
- an area that the region can borrow from India’s successes and experiences,
particularly in its semi-urban and rural areas. The Indian government and
technology companies have long established Public Private Partnership (PPP)
programmes to address the job-skills gap. A gap that can be reduced through
education, training, and an upgrade of government offered courses that are
better aligned with industry demand and skills required – successes that are
conversely about to be eroded given India has increasingly slipped in the NRI
ranking. The recent drop was 15 positions to 83 out of 148 countries.
While several segmented initiatives on the use of ICT for skills exist in Africa,
those relatively large enough, either isolated or as part of larger initiatives, are
few – despite the need to reach high numbers. In the Middle East and African
region, YouthWorks portal is a flagship initiative by Microsoft Corporation
that promotes employability and entrepreneurship for millions of young
people across 19 countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya was the second
3 Measures the propensity of an economy to use ICT to boost competitiveness and well-being
4 World Economic Forum and INSEAD, The Global Information Technology Report 2015: ICTs for
Inclusive Growth. (Geneva, World Economic Forum, 2015).
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