FULL TEXT OF THE COMMUNIQUE: THE ABUJA II STATEMENT OF ACTION 2026

FULL TEXT OF THE COMMUNIQUE: THE ABUJA II STATEMENT OF ACTION 2026
COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 3RD ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SKILLS AND APPRENTICESHIP STAKEHOLDERS NETWORK (SASASNET), HELD ON TUESDAY, 2ND – THURSDAY 4TH JUNE 2026, IN ABUJA, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

Theme: Scaling Apprenticeship for Decent Work in the Quest for Quality Skills Development in the Informal Economy

PREAMBLE
We, the participants of the 3rd Annual Regional Conference of the Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network (SASASNET), representing Government Ministries responsible for Labour, Education, Employment, TVET, Youth Development, Industry and Trade, Development Partners, African Union, employers’ organisations, workers’ organisations, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, qualifications authorities, informal sector associations, academia, private sector organisations, civil society organisations and other stakeholders from across Sub-Saharan Africa;

Meeting in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 2–4 June 2026 under the theme: “Scaling Apprenticeship for Decent Work in the Quest for Quality Skills Development in the Informal Economy”;

Recognising that informal apprenticeship remains the largest and most accessible source of skills acquisition, workforce preparation, enterprise development and employment creation across Africa;

Acknowledging the critical role of apprenticeship systems in promoting productive employment, entrepreneurship, poverty reduction, economic competitiveness and social inclusion;

Recalling:

The African Union Agenda 2063, with its commitment to “Africa’s youth as agents of change” and skills as a pillar of inclusive development;

African Union Continental TVET Strategy 2025 – 2034;

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA);

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 on quality education and lifelong learning and Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth;

The ILO Recommendations No. 204 and No. 208, which provide guidance on transitioning from informal to formal economies and advancing quality apprenticeships, respectively;

AU/ILO Youth Employment Strategy (YES-Africa) which commits to transforming the world of work to create decent jobs and opportunities for African youth.

The Continental TVET Strategy for Africa and the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF) as foundational instruments for harmonizing and scaling skills across the continent;

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024-2033) that commits to support Africa’s youth through industry-oriented skills development and job creation and the Bank’s Four Cardinal Points, adopted to accelerate delivery and maximize the impact for a more prosperous, inclusive, integrated, and resilient Africa;

The UNESCO Global Strategy on TVET and the Mahe process aimed at strengthening TVET policies, systems and practices within the African continent and beyond;

The UNIDO contribution in advancing inclusive and sustainable industrial development and apprenticeship (ISID), as reaffirmed by the Lima Declaration (2013) and the Abu Dhabi Declaration (2019), through skills development and apprenticeship initiatives that are aligned with industrial value chains, to support Member States, particularly through inclusive and scalable models such as the Public Private Development Partnership (PPDP) framework.

Recognising the demographic opportunities presented by Africa’s youthful population and the urgent need to equip young people with relevant skills for decent work and productive livelihoods;

Concerned that despite their importance, informal apprenticeship systems continue to face challenges relating to:

1. policy recognition;
2. financing;
3. quality assurance;
4. certification;
5. labour-market relevance;
6. gender inequality;
7. weak institutional coordination;
8. limited social protection;
9. and restricted labour mobility;
10. Noting the opportunities presented by:
11. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL);
12. digital transformation;
13. artificial intelligence;
14. green economy transitions;
15. regional qualifications frameworks;
16. and innovative financing mechanisms;

Having deliberated through keynote presentations, ministerial dialogue, technical sessions, and stakeholder consultations;

Hereby adopt this Abuja II Statement of Action.

CONFERENCE OBSERVATIONS
The Conference observed that:

Informal Apprenticeship Remains Africa’s Largest Skills Development System: Across Africa, informal apprenticeship continues to provide training opportunities to millions of young people and workers who would otherwise lack access to formal training systems.

Skills Development Must Become a Central Economic Priority: Skills development should be recognised not merely as a social intervention but as a strategic investment in productivity, industrialisation, entrepreneurship and economic transformation.

Financing Remains a Critical Constraint: Many apprenticeship programmes remain underfunded, fragmented and dependent on short-term donor interventions.

Recognition of Prior Learning is a Strategic Opportunity: RPL provides a practical mechanism for recognising competencies acquired through informal apprenticeship and facilitating progression into qualifications systems.

Entrepreneurship Must Become a Core Outcome: Apprenticeship systems should prepare learners not only for employment but also for enterprise creation and business growth.

Technology is Transforming Skills Development: Digital technologies offer significant opportunities for training delivery, learner assessment, certification, labour-market intelligence, and apprenticeship management.

Inclusion Requires Deliberate Action: Women, persons with disabilities, rural youth and other disadvantaged groups continue to face barriers in accessing quality apprenticeship opportunities.

Regional Integration Requires Skills Mobility: The success of AfCFTA depends on the availability of recognised and portable skills across African countries.

COMMITMENTS AND ACTIONS
Policy and Governance
Member States commit to:

1. Strengthen apprenticeship and skills development policies.
2. Integrate informal apprenticeship into national skills systems or skills development frameworks.
3. Improve inter-ministerial coordination.
4. Establish national apprenticeship councils and coordination platforms.
5. Align apprenticeship reforms with AU and ILO frameworks.

SASASNET shall support:

1. policy harmonisation;
2. technical assistance;
3. peer learning;
4. policy research.

Financing Skills Development and Apprenticeships
Governments commit to:

1. Increase public investment in apprenticeship systems.
2. Establish and strengthen Skills Development Funds.
3. Expand Training Levy systems where appropriate.
4. Develop innovative financing mechanisms.
5. Support Master Craftsperson development.

Incentivize employer participation

Development partners commit to:

1. Improve coordination.
2. Promote basket funding arrangements.
3. Support national apprenticeship reforms.

Private sector organisations commit to:

1. Co-invest in apprenticeship systems.
2. Expand workplace learning opportunities.
3. Support industry-led training initiatives.

Quality Assurance, Certification and RPL
Member States commit to:

1. Develop quality assurance frameworks.
2. Strengthen occupational standards.
3. Expand competency-based assessment.
4. Improve certification systems.

Particular emphasis shall be placed on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Countries shall:

1. Establish national RPL systems.
2. Recognise skills acquired through workplace experience.
3. Expand access to assessment and certification services.
4. Integrate RPL into qualifications frameworks.
5. Promote portability of skills certifications.
6. Establish portable, nationally/regionally recognised certifications to enable labour mobility.

Improving Informal Apprenticeships
Governments shall:

1. Establish structured pathways to improve informal apprenticeships.
2. Improve legal recognition of apprenticeship arrangements.
3. Strengthen occupational safety and health systems.
4. Expand social protection coverage.
5. Improve labour rights protections.
6. RPL shall be promoted as a key mechanism for supporting transitions from informal learning to formal recognition.

Entrepreneurship, Productivity and Enterprise Development
Member States commit to:

1. Integrate entrepreneurship education into apprenticeship programmes.
2. Promote business incubation.
3. Support enterprise formalisation.
4. Facilitate access to finance.
5. Strengthen value chain integration.
6. Special attention shall be given to micro enterprises, women-owned enterprises, and youth-led enterprises.

Industry Engagement and Labour Market Relevance
Governments and employers shall:

1. Strengthen industry participation.
2. Promote work-based learning.
3. Ensure programmes are demand-driven and linked to value chains.
4. Expand dual training systems.
5. Improve labour market responsiveness.
6. Large infrastructure projects shall include apprenticeship quotas, local content obligations, and skills transfer requirements.

Digital Transformation and Future Skills
The Conference commits to:

1. Promote digital apprenticeship systems.
2. Expand digital literacy programmes.
3. Develop digital credentials.
4. Support electronic skills passports.
5. Leverage artificial intelligence for skills planning.
6. SASASNET shall establish a regional knowledge-sharing platform on digital innovation in apprenticeship systems.

Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice
Member States commit to:

1. Promote gender-responsive apprenticeship systems.
2. Increase participation of women in technical trades.
3. Improve accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
4. Support vulnerable populations.
5. Strengthen safeguarding and protection mechanisms.
6. Eliminate gender barriers in technical fields.
7. Create support programmes enabling apprentices to transition into entrepreneurship.

Regional Integration and Skills Mobility
Governments commit to:

1. Harmonise qualifications frameworks.
2. Promote mutual recognition of qualifications.
3. Facilitate labour mobility.
4. Support regional centres of excellence.
5. SASASNET shall work with the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), National Qualifications Authorities, and National Skills Councils to advance continental skills mobility initiatives, facilitate the Skills Passport and establish regional centres of excellence.

Institutional Strengthening, Monitoring and Accountability
SASASNET commits to:

1. Establish a continental monitoring and evaluation framework.
2. Produce periodic progress reports.
3. Strengthen national chapters.

Promote research and evidence generation.

Member States commit to:

1. Report progress annually.
2. Share lessons learned.
3. Support peer-review mechanisms.

IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK
To facilitate implementation:

SASASNET shall:

1. Coordinate continental advocacy.
2. Facilitate peer learning.
3. Support policy dialogue.
4. Promote research.
5. Mobilise partnerships.
6. Member States shall:
7. Develop national action plans.
8. Designate focal institutions.
9. Strengthen data systems.

Integrate apprenticeship targets into national development plans.

Development Partners shall:

1. Align support with national priorities.
2. Promote coordination.

Support innovation and scaling.

CLOSING COMMITMENT
We reaffirm our collective commitment to transforming Africa’s apprenticeship systems into inclusive, quality-assured, gender responsive, adequately financed, digitally enabled and internationally recognised pathways to decent work, entrepreneurship, productivity and economic transformation.

We further commit ourselves to strengthening collaboration among governments, employers, workers, development partners, training institutions, informal sector organisations and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that ‘No Artisan, Apprentice or Skilled Worker’ is left behind in Africa’s development journey.

ADOPTION
Adopted unanimously by participants of the 3rd Annual Regional Conference of the Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network (SASASNET), held in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on this 4th Day of June 2026.

Signed:

Hon. Ousman Sillah

Secretary General, SASASNET