• ECOWAS holds Banjul workshop to strengthen TVET and youth skills

• Plans target modern curricula, labor alignment, and regional diplomas

• Move tackles around 25% youth unemployment, rising demographic pressures

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a three-day workshop in Banjul from Sept. 16-18 to boost its members' capacity in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector.

The initiative is part of the regional ETSSIE strategy, designed to improve youth employability and close the skills gap that is hindering economic growth in the sub-region. The workshop's main goal was to develop action plans for modernizing curricula, strengthening institutional governance, and better aligning training with labor market needs.

The stakes are high in a region where youth unemployment is nearly 25% and over 40% of the population is under 15, according to official data. A constant influx of new job seekers is increasing pressure on the labor market, highlighting the urgent need to adapt educational and professional systems. The workshop brought together government representatives, educational experts, technical partners, and the private sector to define concrete measures for improving training quality and promoting the regional recognition of qualifications.

These efforts could have a tangible impact on the lives of thousands of young people by offering more relevant training, reducing periods of unemployment, and curbing informal migration. Families would gain direct access to valued technical professions, and companies would find a skilled and ready-to-work labor force. Professional mobility within ECOWAS would also be facilitated through the mutual recognition of diplomas and certificates.

The workshop's importance stems from a combination of factors. Demographic pressure and the mismatch between training and economic needs are a heavy burden on public finances and social stability. Current curricula are often outdated and struggle to integrate new technologies or emerging professions.

The meeting marks a key step in building a regional skills base, which is essential to making youth a driver of sustainable development. Similar initiatives have taken place in Togo in 2024, and Nigeria has over 700 TVET institutions, illustrating the ongoing effort to modernize training in the sub-region.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou