In East and Southern Africa, nearly 8 million young people enter the job market every year, but less than a million of them secure formal employment. At the same time, 6.5 million young people, including 3.6 million women, are neither in school nor employed. This highlights the challenge of finding decent jobs in Africa despite its natural and human resources. It is within this context that the new World Bank program aims to provide them with the necessary skills to access quality jobs.
Thanks to this new regional program designed to support the creation of large-scale jobs, millions of young people in East and Southern Africa will be able to acquire the skills they need to succeed. By 2034, 18 million young people in the region are expected to benefit from higher quality education and stronger training, opening up opportunities in key economic sectors. The program will also contribute to the creation of millions of new jobs.
For the World Bank, it is urgent to create jobs for the rapidly growing African youth. According to a statement from the international financial institution received by ACTUALITE.CD, creating more and better jobs requires sustained investments in physical and human infrastructure. Developing a wide range of skills to increase productivity, expand job access, raise wages, and create a favorable business environment by mobilizing private capital is crucial.
The program “Skills for Economic Transformation and Employment” in East and Southern Africa (SET4Jobs) will assist countries over an eight-year period with a phased approach to stimulate massive job creation. With a funding of $972 million through the International Development Association (IDA), the program aims to direct skill investments towards high-job creation value chains.
“The SET4Jobs program is a transformative investment in Africa’s greatest asset: its youth. In close collaboration with the private sector, we will ensure that their training aligns with thriving sectors such as agribusiness, energy, health, tourism, and manufacturing. The goal is to equip millions of young people with the skills needed to secure good jobs, thrive and succeed in a modern economy, and contribute to regional prosperity,” stated Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Vice President for East and Southern Africa.
The implementation of the SET4Jobs program will lead to investment projects in the following countries: Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, and Zambia. Additional countries are expected to join in later phases. The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), playing a key role in promoting regional cooperation in higher and technical education, will oversee and collaborate with countries to enhance skills development, higher education, research, and incubation programs for employment.
“The IUCEA has a strong regional experience in strengthening institutional capacities, promoting industry-relevant training, and encouraging applied research and innovation in higher and technical education. With the SET4Jobs program, we are leveraging this momentum to make higher education and vocational training a powerful engine for job creation and shared prosperity across the region,” said Idris Rai, Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA.
The SET4Jobs program will establish a regional knowledge exchange platform to facilitate effective sharing of experiences and lessons learned among participating countries. Supported by IDA resources and International Finance Corporation (IFC) advisory services, the program will mobilize financing from development partners and the private sector.
“The political will is clear: to create decent and sustainable jobs for the youth of the DRC. Aligned with the ‘Standing Young Congolese’ Presidential Program, SKILLS enhances vocational training, opens pathways to employment, and supports entrepreneurship. We thank the World Bank for a strategic partnership that transforms this vision into measurable impact,” stated Marc Ekila Likombo, Minister of State for Vocational Training.
What will the program entail in the DRC?
As per the international financial institution, the funding allocated to the DRC under the “Skills for Economic Transformation and Employment” program totals $300 million and will be deployed over a five-year period. Aligned with the priorities of the DRC’s National Strategic Development Plan, the program focuses on diversification, inclusive growth, and skills development as the drivers of economic transformation. It complements three ongoing megaprojects in the DRC—Inga 3, Lobito Corridor, and PACT—by providing a pool of highly specialized skills to maximize the impact of these operations.
One of the main interventions will involve establishing the Inga Excellence Academy in the Kongo Central province. The project will also support the development of targeted institutions to better address skills needs of the three megaprojects and the broader labor market in six priority sectors: energy and mining, transportation and logistics, agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism, and digital technology.
Who will benefit?
The project is expected to enable one million young Congolese to acquire essential skills for success in the job market, covering a spectrum from basic and intermediate knowledge to advanced skills. It will also provide certification training to 120,000 young people not in employment, education, or training or in precarious situations, support 8,000 young entrepreneurs/apprentices, and finance business plans for 5,000 companies (half of which are led by women).
TVET institutions at both secondary and tertiary levels will receive project support through infrastructure renovation, equipment modernization, curriculum revision, program development tailored to market needs, and trainer training to enhance their capacity to deliver quality education aligned with national priorities and industry needs. In the first year of project implementation, existing training institutions will be strategically selected across the country and supported to acquire skills in priority sectors. This is to meet urgent labor market needs pending the opening of the Inga Excellence Academy.
How will the project be implemented in the DRC?
The project’s implementation in the DRC will be led by the Ministry of Vocational Training, in close coordination with other ministries involved in skills development. It will be overseen by a Project Management Unit (UGP) with extensive experience in project implementation, currently supporting the Quality Improvement Project in Education (PEQIP). The project will also fund capacity-building activities to strengthen the UGP and ensure efficient and timely execution.
Taking effect on September 1, 2026, the project in the DRC will strongly involve the private sector to ensure its successful implementation. Private sector participation will focus on: i) revising and developing market-adapted programs, ii) trainer training programs, iii) student training and internship or apprenticeship opportunities, iv) construction of the Inga Excellence Academy, v) management and operation of the Academy, vi) provision of scholarships for girls and vulnerable youth, and vii) provision of strategic and technical advice.
