The East Africa Regional ACJ: August 16th – 17th , 2021

Businesses, policy makers, TVET institutions, secondary and higher education professionals, youth organizations and civil society from East Africa will come together on August 16th & 17th 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (East African Time) to discuss ‘Skills and Jobs for East Africa’s Economic Growth’. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the East Africa Region had the most resilient economy in 2021 with growth of 0.7%, a significant drop from 5.3% in 2019, but nevertheless stronger than the rest of the continent that saw negative growth. In this context, businesses are struggling to adapt to new market needs and new business processes. The demand for capacities in leadership, change management, digitalization and remote work is skyrocketing and yet these skills are in limited supply. In its 6th Development Strategy, the East African Community (EAC) has identified TVET a priority area. It recognizes the role of TVET in regional economic growth, regional integration, employment creation, poverty reduction, strengthening the productive sectors and value addition. As the East African region adjusts to this new economic challenges, key questions arise:

• What are the key sectors of the economy that can ensure growth and create jobs?

• What are the skills needed to drive growth and competitiveness in these sectors?

• What are the linkages, policies and practices needed to create the synergy among public and private stakeholders to seize these opportunities?

• What are the key lessons from the experience of the East African Community in facilitating economic growth and job creation? Join the discussions to reflect, learn and share your experiences in order to determine policies and strategies for your region.

Day 1

Day 2