African Union and Zimbabwe Launch Africa Skills Week 2026 to Advance Skills Development and Industrial Transformation

The African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, today officially opened the Third Edition of Africa Skills Week (ASW) 2026 at the Harare International Conference Centre. Organised by the AUC Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), the event is being held from 12 to 16 October 2026 under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Held under the theme, “Skills for Resilient and Competitive African Industries: From Training to Value Creation,” Africa Skills Week 2026 brings together African leaders, policymakers, industry representatives, education and training institutions, development partners and young people to strengthen collaboration between education and the labour market. The initiative seeks to advance skills development, improve youth employability and ensure that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) responds to Africa’s industrialisation priorities and evolving economic needs.

On behalf of H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, expressed sincere appreciation to H.E. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and to the Government and people of Zimbabwe for their exemplary leadership, warm hospitality and unwavering commitment to advancing Africa’s skills development and transformation agenda.

In his opening statement, H.E. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, welcomed African leaders and participants to Zimbabwe, emphasising the importance of investing in relevant skills, work-based learning and enterprise development to harness the continent’s demographic potential.

“Our continent possesses the youngest population in the world, with over sixty percent under the age of thirty-five. This immense demographic potential must be converted into a competitive force through deliberate investments in relevant skills, work-based learning, and enterprise incubation,” President Mnangagwa stated.

President Mnangagwa underscored the need to move beyond predominantly theoretical education towards practical knowledge and technical capabilities, while emphasising African ownership of the continent’s development. Referring to Zimbabwe’s national development philosophy, “a country is built, governed and sustained by its own people”, he called on delegates to deliver tangible outcomes and advance African solutions to African challenges.

Commissioner Banyankimbona highlighted the urgency of equipping Africa’s young population with the skills required to drive innovation, productivity and industrial growth. With more than 12 million young people entering the labour market annually, compared with approximately three million absorbed by the formal economy, he stressed the need to expand opportunities through entrepreneurship, innovation and the development of high-value industries.

The Commissioner further emphasised that the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents significant opportunities for Africa, particularly in artificial intelligence, robotics and other advanced technologies. He called for greater investment in technological capabilities and skills development to ensure that African youth become innovators and creators of solutions adapted to the continent’s priorities.

Recalling Thomas Sankara’s call to “dare to invent the future,” Commissioner Banyankimbona stressed that Africa must take ownership of its industrialisation by adapting global technologies to address local challenges in agriculture, mining, health and other strategic sectors.

H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona also underscored the strategic importance of aligning technical and vocational education and training with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). With the AfCFTA representing a combined gross domestic product of approximately USD 3.4 trillion, he called for stronger links between skills development and priority continental value chains, including agro-processing, automotive manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. Harmonised skills standards and improved mobility of skilled workers, he noted, would strengthen regional integration and enhance Africa’s competitiveness.

Commissioner Banyankimbona highlighted the importance of translating continental policy frameworks into measurable national action, particularly the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) 2026–2035, the African Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034 and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2034. He encouraged Member States to integrate these frameworks into national policies, strengthen coordination between education, labour and industrial sectors, and develop sustainable financing mechanisms for TVET.

Commending Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, the Commissioner noted that its emphasis on innovation and industrialisation demonstrates how education can contribute directly to value creation and national development. He also proposed consideration of an annual Africa Education and Skills Summit to strengthen political leadership, financing, industrial policy and accountability in the implementation of continental skills development priorities.

Addressing the role of emerging technologies in education, Commissioner Banyankimbona emphasised that digital transformation must remain human-centred and inclusive. “While AI and digital technologies are transforming education, the human dimension of teaching remains irreplaceable. Africa must empower teachers to harness technology while developing learners as creators, innovators and problem-solvers, not merely consumers of technology,” he underscored.

Africa Skills Week 2026 builds on previous editions held in Ghana in 2024 and Ethiopia in 2025, reinforcing the African Union’s commitment to positioning skills development as a driver of inclusive growth, industrial competitiveness and sustainable development. The deliberations in Harare will also contribute to preparations for the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology, scheduled for 2–6 November 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The opening ceremony brought together Honourable ministers; members of parliament; representatives of AU Member States; Regional Economic Communities and international partners; members of the diplomatic corps; industry leaders; employers and workers’ organisations; TVET institutions; academia; civil society; and young people.

The conference is expected to produce a communiqué outlining continental priorities and commitments, alongside recommendations on skills financing, labour-market responsiveness, work-based learning, inclusion and innovation-driven education. Discussions will also explore the development of an annual Africa Education and Skills Summit and stronger partnerships to align skills development with Africa’s industrialisation agenda and the implementation of the AfCFTA.

The African Union Commission reaffirmed its readiness to work with Member States and partners to translate the outcomes of Africa Skills Week into concrete action, ensuring that skills development creates opportunities for young people, strengthens African industries and accelerates the realisation of Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want.

For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division, Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission of the AU to the UN | Information and Communication Directorate | E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)
Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Maqhawe Freedom Thwala | Digital Communications Officer | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| E-mail: [email protected]| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.