Title: New perspectives for skills development in Africa: Vocational training of youth in the informal sect
1New perspectives for skills development in
AfricaVocational training of youth in the
informal sector
Richard Walther, AFD DSA Annuel Conference,
London, 2008 Children and Youth as the Future of
Development
2References of the presentation
- Field surveys in various African countries (incl.
Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco,
Senegal, South Africa) - An overall report on Training in the informal
sector and Towards a Renewal of
Apprenticeship in West Africa - ADEA country reports on post-primary education
and training
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
3The summary of the presentation
- The studies assumptions
- The African context and realities
- New trends in skills development and training
- Ways of stimulating African economies and
reducing inequalities for young people to develop
skills and access the world of work
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
4The studies assumptions
- Vocational training is a driver of the informal
sectors development - Vocational training can help an economy to rise
above survival and subsistence and achieve growth
and development - Youth cannot be the future of development without
having access to the skills needed to enter the
world of work.
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
5The socio-economic context
- African economies are largely informal
- So what is the informal sector ? The
statistical approach to the concept - an informal enterprise is any production or
service unit that does not keep full sets of
accounts. - There are other approaches (decent work, fiscal
status) - The informal sector is not a sub-economy, its
the economy of self employed people, of micro and
small enterprises fighting for a decent future
Children and Youth as the Future of Development
New perspectives for skills development in
Africa vocational training in the informal
sector Richard Walther
6The socio-economic context
- The informal sector is much larger than expected
- Between 31 (South Africa) and 95 (Benin) of the
labour market - Between 30 (South Africa) and 50-60 (Benin,
Cameroon and Senegal) of GDP - Compared to 75 to between 47 and 84 informal
workers in Latin America and 90 in India
Children and Youth as the future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
7The education and training systems context
- The minor role of formal TVET
- An average of 50 of the young people aged 12 or
13 are out of the formal school system (between
80 in Tanzania, BF, Niger and 12 in South
Africa, Algeria, Mauritius) - Today TVET trains on average no more than 5 of
young African people - Most of the adult and youth working in the
informal sector did not receive any formal
initial nor continuing training
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
8Skills development routes in the informal sector
- The sector trains the great majority of young
people in most of African countries
Formal initial training (about 5)
Informal or non-formal training (95) On-the-job
training Self-training Traditional apprenticeship
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
9The education and training systems context
- A challenge to face equitable access and
outcomes - The educational and skills needs of youth in the
rural areas are often left aside - There are strong gender disparities (early
maternities, double amount of work) - There are specific skills needs for young people
in post-conflict countries to be tackled
Chlidren and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
10New trends in skills development and training
- There is a growing agreement among the countries
- to foster and recognise the training of young
people in- and outside the formal school system - to support skills needed to develop local economy
and activities - to give young people personal and entrepreneurial
skills
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
11New trends in skills development and training
- There is a common understanding among the
countries - to develop new types of skills through diverse
training paths and mechanisms - to build new training systems based on
public/private partnerships and social dialogue - to promote co-financing of a sustainable
development of skills
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
12Ways of stimulating African economies in reducing
inequalities of access to skills and the world of
work
- Acknowledge the informal sector as a source of
skills development in its own right - Set up pre-vocational skills training schemes to
avoid social and educational waste - Renew traditional apprenticeship or non-formal
training paths according to the present needs - Define the demand for skills and training in
partnership with professional organisations - Give young people a voice in the debate on access
to jobs and economic activities
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
13Ways of stimulating African economies and
reducing inequalities
- Train adults at the same time as young people
- Support efforts to make training effective by
developing sustainable financing instruments - Provide means to help young people to move from
training to activity and enterprise creation - Validate and recognise informally and non
formally acquired skills - In all cases, raise education and skills levels
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
14For a skills development system giving a future
to the youth
Partner-driven Public-private partnership National
qualifications framework
- Integrated skills development system
- TVET/Diversity of initial and continuing training
paths - /Equality of access and outcomes
- In response to development needs
- local
- sector-wide
- rural
- global
- In response to the need for equity
- Low educated people
- Girls/women
- Rural population
- Post-conflict population
-
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther
15Conclusion
- Youth can be the future of developement
only if the present education and training
systems and pathways give them the right skills
to come out of poverty and access jobs and
activities raising their hopes in the future - Thank You
Children and Youth as the Future of
Development New perspectives for skills
development in Africa vocational training in the
informal sector Richard Walther