Stakeholders from 24 member countries representing governments, informal sector/artisans, workers and employers associations, social partners, TVET providers, youth organisations and international and regional development partners who attended the recently concluded 2nd Regional Conference on Quality Skills and Apprenticeships in Africa, held in the coastal city Mombasa, from 14 – 16 May, 2025, under the auspices of the Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network SASASNET and the Ministry of Labour and Skills Development of the Republic of Kenya, have called on the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union AU to adopt the Mombasa Declaration of Action and to declare 2025 – 2034 as Africa Decade for Skills Development.
In presenting the Mombasa Declaration at the end of the three days regional conference, Hon. Ousman Sillah, Secretary General Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network (SASASNET), noted the Call For Action (CFA) by the African Union, SASASNET member country governments, international and regional development partners and the stakeholders in the skills and apprenticeship ecosystem at the national and regional levels to explore ways of advancing and implementing actions and commitments on transitioning skills development and apprenticeships from the informal to formal economic systems.
The Secretary General of SASASNET emphasised that the Mombasa Declaration made calls for action in 5 key areas: 1. Governments to recognize, engage and promote the informal sector as a critical entity in their economic development strategies; 2. Governments to prioritize funding and implementation of skills transformation strategies; 3. Development partners and donors to align their support with national and regional priorities; 4. Employers and worker organizations to actively co-design apprenticeship models and provide structured on-the-job learning; and 5. Youth organizations to continue advocating, innovating, and holding institutions accountable.
The Declaration, continued Hon. Sillah, acknowledges the formation and operationalisation of SASASNET, now active in 43 African countries, as a unique continental platform advancing skills development and apprenticeship reforms and the inspiring leadership demonstrated by various member countries in advancing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and integrating informal systems into national frameworks.
It further acknowledges the partnerships and technical support provided by the regional and international multi-lateral institutions, organisations and initiatives such as the African Union, ILO, AfDB, UNIDO, UNESCO, European Training Foundation, UNESCO/UNEVOC, BILT Project, National Skills Development Corporation (India), Mastercard Foundation, OSCARS Olympiads, PROMETRIC, Swisscontact, ILO PROSPECTS Project, Don Bosco Tech Africa and Commonwealth of Learning as demonstrated by their support and participation in the regional conference.
Some of the key highlights outlined by the SASASNET Secretary General as commitments in the Mombasa Declaration is for SASASNET to enhance regional skills mobility under the auspices of the African Union to promote regional labour mobility through the development of the African Skills Passport (ASP), improved cross-border skills recognition and employment facilitation mechanisms.
Another key highlight of the Mombasa Declaration is the commitment to establish a permanent SASASNET Youth Forum and also the holding of an African Youth Conference on Skills Development and of the Government of Kenya has offered to host.
The other shared commitments and declarations include to transition from informal economy to formal economy; to upgrade informal apprenticeships to formal apprenticeships; to institutionalise Recognition of Prior Learning ( RPL), to adopt the African Union 1 Million Next Level Initiative; to strengthen an African Skills recognition and standardisation framework; to enhance the participation of African countries in World skills competitions; to establish African Integrated Labour Market Intelligence and Data Systems; to strengthen regional trade through skills development; to strengthen youth enterprises and access to finance; to establish centres of excellence; to strengthen cross border and regional collaboration; to promote sustainable financing; and to promote knowledge management.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Continental Chairperson of SASASNET, underscored the importance of quality skills and apprenticeships to ensure the transitioning from the informal to formal systems. He emphasised the role that SASASNET is poised to play as a vehicle and solid anchor for the development, coordination and implementation of strategies aimed at achieving quality skills and apprenticeship systems that would also equip the young people with the right skills for decent and productive employment.
Dr. Martha Phiri, Director Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development, who was invited as speaker in various panels, re-echoed the Bank commitment in the giving priority to interventions related to the development of a skilled workforce and creation of opportunities for youth employment as stated in its new ten-year development strategy. She applauded and acknowledged the SASASNET initiative as the vehicle that needs to be supported to realise these objectives in Africa.
Panellists from the African Union, ILO, UNESCO, UNIDO and the other international and regional organisations and programmes have all emphasised the need to collaborate with SASASNET in the realisation of their shared objectives and commitments.
Hon. Dr. Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary (Minister) of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Kenya, in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, said “This conference, therefore, marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards developing a skilled workforce—one that is employable, productive, enterprising, innovative, adaptable, and globally competitive.”
The Labour Minister concluded “As the major outcome of this conference, the Mombasa Declaration on Advancing Quality Skills Development, Apprenticeship Systems, and Economic Transition in Africa, should become a critical tool for the continent.”
“Representing The SASASNET Gambia Chapter at the conference was Mr Ousainou Mendy, General and Operations Manager of Malick Mendy Tailoring Limited.”
The closing ceremony was moderated by Mr, Shadrack M. Mwadime, Permanent Secretary of the Sate Department of Labour.
During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of SASASNET, the delegation from Malawi offered to host the next Regional Conference and AGM.
