Africa is experiencing a rapid demographic shift, with over 60 percent of its population under the age of 25 and nearly 600 million individuals expected to be of working age by 2050. Demographic momentum presents a potential economic dividend––but only if young people are equipped with the right skills to thrive in a changing global labor market. Currently, Africa’s potential is being undermined by high levels of youth unemployment and a persistent skills mismatch. Amid these challenges, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) offers a critical pathway forward.
TVET can build practical, work-relevant skills that enhance employability, productivity, and economic resilience. It is particularly important in Africa, where labor markets are rapidly evolving because of digitalization, automation, green transitions, and changing global value chains. However, TVET systems in Africa, despite diverse national contexts, face common, deep-rooted challenges that limit their effectiveness––chronic underfunding, a shortage of instructors, inadequate professional development, poor infrastructure, and weak alignment between training and labor market needs, to name a few.
This synthesis report, developed as part of the Building TVET Systems for Economic Transformation project led by ACET in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, assesses the readiness of national TVET systems to respond to dynamic labor market needs, support inclusive economic transformation, and prepare youth for the demands of current and future job markets. It draws on six detailed country case studies––Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Niger, Rwanda, and Uganda––to identify and map the key challenges facing the TVET sector across the six countries and to highlight promising practices and actionable policy recommendations.
Building TVET systems that are responsive, inclusive, and future-ready will require strong political will, solid institutional capacity, and sustained commitment. Equally important is the active engagement of the private sector and civil society to support governments in realizing their education and economic transformation goals. Progress will depend on coordinated investment, clear accountability frameworks, and policies that embed equity and innovation across all levels of the TVET system.
Read the Full Report Download the Full Report
