$972 Million Program to Equip 18 Million Youth for Jobs
A new regional program backed by the World Bank aims to equip 18 million young people across Eastern and Southern Africa with improved education and market-relevant skills by 2034, supporting large-scale job creation in some of the region’s fastest-growing economic sectors.
The initiative comes at a critical time for the region’s labor markets. Each year, approximately 8 million young people enter the workforce in Eastern and Southern Africa, yet fewer than one million secure waged employments. At the same time, an estimated 6.5 million youth— including 3.6 million young women—are neither in school nor engaged in any form of employment, whether formal or informal.
Addressing this challenge requires sustained investment in both physical and human capital, alongside reforms that foster a business-friendly environment and mobilize private sector investment. Expanding relevant skills, boosting productivity, and aligning training systems with labor market demand are seen as essential steps toward generating more and better jobs.
The Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs Program in Eastern and Southern Africa (SET4Jobs) will support participating countries over an eight-year period through a multi-phase approach designed to drive job creation at scale. The program aligns skills development investments with specific value chains that show strong potential for employment growth. It is supported by a $972 million financing package from the International Development Association (IDA).
“SET4Jobs is a transformative investment in Africa’s greatest resource—its youth,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa. “Working closely with the private sector, we will help align training with growing industries such as agribusiness, energy, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing. The goal is to equip millions of young people with the skills needed to secure quality jobs, thrive in a modern economy, and drive regional prosperity.”
The program will be implemented through investment projects in Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, and Zambia. The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) will oversee regional coordination, leveraging its experience in strengthening tertiary and technical education, advancing industry-aligned training, and promoting applied research and innovation.
According to Prof. Idris Rai, Acting Executive Secretary of IUCEA, the initiative will build on existing regional collaboration to transform higher education and skills development into a powerful engine for job creation and shared prosperity.
SET4Jobs will also establish a regional knowledge-exchange platform to facilitate the sharing of experiences and lessons learned among participating countries. In addition, it will leverage advisory services from IDA and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), while serving as a platform to attract further financing from development partners and the private sector.
Source: World Bank