The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labour and Skills, will host the second edition of Africa Skills Week (ASW) from 13–17 October 2025 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Building on the momentum of the inaugural edition in 2024, Africa Skills Week has been institutionalized as an annual continental platform to advance Africa’s skills transformation agenda. The 2025 edition will be held under the theme: “Powering Africa’s Industrial Future: Skills for Innovation, Growth, and Sustainability.”

With Africa standing at a pivotal moment in its development journey, the event will highlight the critical role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in driving industrialization, productivity, decent job creation, and sustainable economic transformation. ASW 2025 will also serve as a platform to accelerate the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034, advancing the objectives of Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Key Highlights of Africa Skills Week 2025

• High-Level Plenaries and Ministerial Roundtables bringing together Heads of State, Ministers, CEOs, and global partners to shape Africa’s skills and industrialization agenda.
• Technical Sessions & Sectoral Panels showcasing best practices, innovations, and strategies for aligning TVET with industrial priority sectors such as agro-processing, manufacturing, construction, digital, and green industries.
• Skills Development Marketplace and Exhibition featuring cutting-edge innovations, partnerships, and youth-led solutions.
• Youth and Entrepreneurial Engagement Platform providing opportunities for young people and women entrepreneurs to pitch innovations, network, and access mentorship.
• CTVET Strategy Implementation Validation Forum for Member States and partners to share progress, align policies, and validate the CTVET Strategy implementation plan.
• Field Visits to Ethiopia’s industrial parks, TVET institutions, and innovation hubs to highlight enterprise-based learning and industry linkages.
• Country-Level Actions across AU Member States commemorating the Week through skills-focused national initiatives.

Expected Outcomes

Africa Skills Week 2025 is expected to:

• Accelerate implementation of the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034.
• Strengthen alignment between skills development and Africa’s industrialization strategies.
• Showcase innovative models linking training with employment and entrepreneurship.
• Elevate youth, women, and entrepreneurs as key drivers of Africa’s industrial transformation.

Quotes

H.E. Ali Youssouf Mohammed, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, emphasized:

“Africa Skills Week 2025 represents our collective resolve to transform Africa’s demographic dividend into a dynamic workforce that powers industrial growth, sustainability, and innovation across the continent.”

H.E. Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, Minister of Labour and Skills of Ethiopia, noted:

“Hosting this continental platform in Addis Ababa reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to inclusive skills development, including opportunities for refugees and displaced populations, as part of our shared African industrial future.”

About Africa Skills Week

Established in 2024, Africa Skills Week (ASW) is the African Union’s premier platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action on skills development and employability. It mobilizes governments, private sector, development partners, academia, and youth towards building a skilled, innovative, and competitive African workforce in line with Agenda 2063.