ECA/OEA Skills Gap Study Webinar

Introduction

The moderator welcomes everyone to the discussion and introduces the topic of creating productive jobs and enhancing skills in African countries facing macroeconomic imbalances.

• The session will have three speakers who will present their work on addressing the deficit in skills and creating productive jobs.

• Jacques Neil from Africa Macro Sport Economics will present an English study titled "Human Capital Address" that focuses on creating productive jobs.

• Maktar Diop from CEA will discuss how to address the digital skills gap in Africa.

• Rachida Dardouri from BIT will share an experience on developing skills for economic diversification and trade.

Presentation of Study

Jacques Neil presents a study that focuses on human capital development as a means of creating productive jobs.

• Digital skills are lacking in Africa, with most countries having a score below 1.8 out of 10 on the Digital Skills Index.

• The study proposes investing in human capital development to create more productive jobs.

• Human capital development can be achieved through education, training, and upskilling programs.

• The study recommends investing in sectors with high potential for job creation such as agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

Developing Economic Sectors

The speaker discusses the importance of developing economic sectors to create more productive jobs.

• Developing economic sectors is crucial for job creation and economic growth.

• Agriculture has great potential for job creation due to its labor-intensive nature.

• Manufacturing can also create many jobs if it is linked to other sectors such as agriculture or mining.

• Services such as tourism can also be a source of job creation if they are developed properly.

Addressing Digital Skills Gap

The speaker discusses the need to address the digital skills gap in Africa.

• The Digital Skills Index shows that most African countries have a low score in digital skills.

• Addressing the digital skills gap requires investment in education and training programs.

• Governments should also create an enabling environment for the development of the digital economy.

• Private sector involvement is crucial for addressing the digital skills gap.

Importance of Digital Skills in Africa

The speaker discusses the importance of digital skills in Africa and the challenges faced in developing these skills.

Lack of Digital Skills

• Only 3% of women are graduates in ICT, and only 12% have digital finance skills.

• Only 30% of women engage in STEM studies.

Causes for Limitations

• Limited infrastructure and connectivity, with only 33% internet access on the continent.

• High costs for data access and equipment due to a lack of technology industries in Africa.

Addressing the Issue

• Support projects that increase digital skills, such as Girls Can Code initiative.

• Focus on young female start-ups to strengthen their capacity through initiatives like African Women Techpreneurship.

Women in Technology: Challenges and Opportunities

The speaker discusses the challenges faced by women in technology, including the lack of digital skills, high cost of education, and limited access to tools. She also highlights opportunities for increasing female participation in the field.

Increasing Female Participation

• 40% of girls are interested in continuing in STEM fields.

• 10% of girls could become major players in IT and communication.

• Policies should be put in place to introduce tech knowledge at school level.

• Reduce digital connectivity costs to increase access.

• Create local content to promote African culture and generate revenue.

• Increase cybersecurity policies as it affects GDP by 10%.

Developing a Skilled Workforce

The speaker shares her experience with implementing a project aimed at developing a skilled workforce. She discusses how to move from strategy to implementation while highlighting challenges faced during implementation.

Moving from Strategy to Implementation

• Share experiences on how to develop a skilled workforce.

• Discuss challenges faced during implementation.

• Highlight importance of adequate skills for job demand.

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