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It is generally recognised that the development of relevant skills is an important instrument for improving productivity and working conditions, and the promotion of decent work in the informal economy, which represents the major employer in Africa. The increasing recognition that higher technical and vocational skills are crucial in enhancing competitiveness and contributing to social inclusion, decent employment, and poverty reduction has been a strong incentive for reform. African countries are therefore working towards improving the quality and skills levels of their labour forces. This is being facilitated through the Technical and Vocational Training Institutes. Education and skills can open doors to economically and socially rewarding jobs and can help the development of small informal-sector businesses, allow the re-insertion of displaced workers and support the transition from school to work for school drop-outs and graduates. Ultimately, developing job-related competencies among the poor, the youth and the vulnerable is recognised as crucial to progress in economic development and reducing poverty. The challenge is now to scale-up on the basis of successful pilot programmes. The number of enterprises capable of offering work-place training opportunities is limited, while many training institutions have poor delivery capacity and commonly lack funding. In turn, training programmes do not produce skilled graduates because training is of poor quality and the equipment obsolete. Many youths cannot access formal TVET, and few countries have training policies which emphasise skills development in the informal sector. Other obstacles include the low prestige of formal TVET in the eyes of the general public and parents who consider it to be an option suitable only for pupils who perform poorly in general education. This paper aims at providing a picture of technical and vocational skills development in African countries, exploring challenges and bottlenecks, highlighting good practices, and identifying priorities for further research. Specifically, the objectives will be to (a) update knowledge about the status of technical - vocational education and training in the African region, (b) explore issues and recent developments, and (c) distil a set of lessons and policy messages to guide skills development in the region. The focus of the analysis will be on the economics of skills development. Provision of financing of TVET will be examined through the lens of economic efficiency, balanced with attention to social equity.

Vocational Skills Development for Youths in the Informal Sector of the Economy in Africa