Technical skills are key in driving African sustainable industrialization

Africa’s Industrialization Challenge

Introduction

Africa remains the world’s least industrialized region, with only one country on the entire continent, South Africa, being categorized as industrialized. According to the 2022 data from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), there needs to be a fundamental shift in the structure of the economies of African nations. This report aims to highlight the importance of industrialization in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and discuss the efforts being made to promote industrialization in Africa.

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, set to become operational on 1 January 2021, is expected to enhance intra-African trade and unlock foreign direct investment in the continent. This agreement presents new and dynamic opportunities for industrialization in Africa.

Relocation of Labor-Intensive Jobs

With the projection that 100 million labor-intensive jobs will leave China by 2030, there is a prospect of these jobs being relocated to African countries. However, the continent is facing a skills mismatch that requires revamping of education systems to produce graduates with industry-based skills.

Investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

Recognizing the need for skilled workers, African leaders are investing in the TVET sector to prepare the youth for industrialization. The old education system, which focused on producing white-collar job graduates, is being transformed to meet the demands of the industrial sector.

• Gildas Ogandaga, Team Leader of Gabon, states that investing in the TVET sector is crucial for driving industrialization in Africa.
• China has been at the forefront of promoting technical courses among African youth.
• AVIC International Holding Corporation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Kenya and the China Education Association for International Exchange, has organized the Africa Tech Challenge (ATC) to empower African youth with industry-based skills.

ATC Season 8

The ATC Season 8 has attracted participants from nine countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Egypt, Zambia, Tanzania, Cote D’Ivoire, and Zimbabwe. The competition aims to improve skills and promote idea sharing and benchmarking in various TVET sectors.

• Participants have access to modern CNC and Lathe machines provided by AVIC International, enabling them to acquire the necessary skills for industrialization.
• The winners of ATC Season 8 will be awarded internships and job opportunities.

Importance of Technical Skills

Technical skills are key in driving sustainable industrialization in Africa. The shift towards practical training in TVET programs is essential to ensure graduates have industry-needed skills.

• Uganda has implemented a directive to make training 30 percent theory and 70 percent practical to address the challenge of theory-based skills among TVET graduates.

Economic Development and Africa Tech Challenge

Africa Tech Challenge not only promotes skills development but also drives solutions to challenges in the national economy that require the use of science and technology. The competition focuses on the role of engineering in driving industrialization in Africa, particularly in the construction industry.

• The top six teams in the competition will receive numerous prizes and scholarships to prestigious Chinese universities.
• The Technical University of Kenya is hosting the one-month competition.

Conclusion

Industrialization is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa. Efforts are being made to promote industrialization through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement and the Africa Tech Challenge. By investing in technical and vocational education and training, African countries are preparing their youth to drive industrialization and address the skills mismatch. It is essential to continue supporting these initiatives to accelerate industrialization in Africa.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
• SDG 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship
• SDG 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 9.2: Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added
• Indicator for SDG 4.4: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill
• Indicator for SDG 8.2: Manufacturing value added per capita and manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Based on the article, the issues highlighted are connected to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The specific targets identified are SDG 9.2, SDG 4.4, and SDG 8.2. The article mentions indicators such as the proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added, the proportion of youth and adults with ICT skills, and manufacturing value added per capita and employment.

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Source: garoweonline.com

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