Hon. Ousman Sillah, Secretary General of the Sub-Saharan Africa Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network (SASASNET), represented the African continent at a high-level panel discussion on “Priorities for Future TVET Collaboration: Towards a Global TVET Agenda” during the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Conference on “Open Innovation in TVET: Collaborating Towards a Global TVET Agenda.”
The three-day global conference, held from 4 to 6 November 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil, brought together policymakers, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) leaders, researchers, industry representatives and development partners from 35 countries to explore innovative approaches to strengthening TVET systems worldwide.
The event was organised by UNESCO-UNEVOC in collaboration with Brazil’s National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI), with support from Germany’s Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and funding from the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ).
Hon. Sillah joined a distinguished panel of international TVET experts, including Mr Kertney Thompson, Chairperson of the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA); Mr Han Jeong Tae, International Affairs Senior Specialist at the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET); and Ms Birgit Thomann, Director-General for International VET at BIBB, Germany. The session was moderated by Mr Friedrich Huebler, Director-General of UNESCO-UNEVOC in Bonn, Germany.
Speaking on behalf of Africa, Hon. Sillah outlined the continent’s priorities for advancing skills development and strengthening global cooperation in the TVET sector. He emphasised the importance of aligning skills training with employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and the evolving demands of labour markets.
He called for increased investment in apprenticeship systems and work-based learning programmes, noting that both formal and informal apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in equipping millions of young Africans with employable skills.
Hon. Sillah also underscored the need for stronger international collaboration to prepare young people for the digital economy, develop green skills that support sustainable development and facilitate knowledge-sharing among regions.
“Future TVET collaboration must be built on innovation, inclusivity and partnership,” he said. “No region should be left behind as the world prepares learners and workers for the rapidly changing demands of the future world of work.”
He further highlighted the importance of South-South cooperation, calling for stronger partnerships among African countries and between Africa and other regions to promote the exchange of best practices, enhance skills mobility and drive economic transformation.
The conference concluded with participants reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing responsive, inclusive and sustainable TVET systems capable of addressing emerging global challenges and opportunities.
SASASNET’s participation in the conference reinforced Africa’s commitment to shaping a global TVET agenda that promotes quality skills development, lifelong learning, youth employment, innovation and sustainable economic growth.
