Welcome to IUCEA

Vision:  IUCEA becomes an exemplary common higher education area for a prosperous and sustainable East African Community by 2030.

Mission: To encourage and develop mutually beneficial collaboration between Member Universities and between them and Governments and other organizations, both public and private

IUCEA Core Values:  Accountability, Transparency, Unity, Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism and Teamwork

IUCEA executive members visiting IUCEA premise

Africa Policy Academy to Tackle Youth Skills Crisis on the Continent

Academy will bring together senior policy‑makers, World Bank task‑team leaders and private‑sector representatives to address Africa’s skills crisis

Nairobi, 22 September 2024 –The World Bank Group is convening a high-level Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy to address the skills gap on the African continent.

The event, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 30 September to 3 October 2025, will focus on sharing evidence-based approaches, examining emerging skills demands in key sectors, including agribusiness, energy, health, manufacturing, and tourism and developing actionable plans to reform technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

Organized in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the event will bring together policymakers, World Bank task team leaders, and private sector representatives to address Africa’s skills crisis.

Coinciding with the official launch of the African Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034, the event will serve as a platform for policymakers and stakeholders to engage and co-create innovative solutions aligned with the vision of “the Africa we want.” This initiative builds on and complements existing programs, such as the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), that have demonstrated the impact of targeted skills development in flagship institutions.

“The Skills for Jobs Africa Policy Academy brings governments, industry, and development partners together to co-create solutions and reforms that will lay the foundation to ensure a bright future for Africa’s youth and future generations,” said Ndiame Diop, Regional Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, The World Bank Group. “We invite policymakers, donors, and businesses to engage, invest, and partner with us to transform Africa’s skills landscape.”

The Academy will seek to address and provide solutions to systemic problems in Africa’s job market, where more than one million youth enter the labour market every month. It is estimated that up to 86 per cent of available jobs are in the informal sector. Yet, many young people lack job-relevant skills for both informal and growth priority sectors.

The Executive Secretary, Inter-University Council for East Africa, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, pointed out that persistent system-level challenges, such as limited funding, fragmentation of training provision, weak coordination with industry, poor foundational skills, a mismatch between training content and actual job requirements, and lack of effective career guidance and job matching platforms, served to undermine the responsiveness of skilling systems to evolving labour market needs.

“Africa’s youth need hands on and quality technical and vocational education to thrive in a rapidly changing labour market. TVET can be a catalyst for economic growth and social inclusion when aligned with industry demands,” said Prof. Banyankimbona.

With global megatrends such as digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence, Green skills and climate change reshaping the future of work, the Academy will underscore the urgency of demand-driven, inclusive, and high-quality skills systems that can support upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning for diverse groups, including youth, women in both formal and informal sectors.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Godwin Bonge Muhwezi,

Inter-University Council for East Africa

Email: gmuhwezi@iucea.org   

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

  • The Africa Skills for Jobs Policy Academy will convene around 250 participants from more than 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Delegations will include representatives from the Ministries responsible for Finance or Economy, TVET/skills development, and agencies and private sector representatives
  • Participants will engage through keynotes, panels, case studies, field visits, and peer learning, gaining tools to assess demand, governance, industry linkages, financing, micro-credentials, and technology integration.
  • The programme supports countries in repositioning TVET as a flexible, inclusive, and demand-driven system for skilling, reskilling, and upskilling at scale.
  • The Academy provides a platform to reimagine Africa’s skills development ecosystem, focusing on:
    • Skills demand and economic/sectoral policies
    • Employer engagement and job placement
    • Skills supply systems, including governance, financing, quality standards, digital transformation, M&E.
    • School-to-work transitions for youth.

ABOUT THE WORLD BANK GROUP

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of financial and technical assistance to developing countries. It is Made up of five institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). It works with partners in more than 100 countries to reduce poverty, promote sustainable development, and foster inclusive growth. Its mission is to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a liveable planet.

ABOUT IUCEA

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an institution of the East African Community (EAC), established by the IUCEA Act 2009. IUCEA provides a platform for networking among universities in East Africa and beyond, serving as a forum for dialogue on higher education matters in the region. Its mandate is to advise EAC Partner States on higher education and works to ensure internationally comparable education standards that enhance the region’s competitiveness. Membership is open to universities, university colleges, and degree-awarding institutions duly incorporated in any EAC Partner States.

Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs (SET4Jobs) in Eastern and Southern Africa MPA Program

(P510027)

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN (ESCP)

Appraisal

September 2025

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMMITMENT PLAN

  1. The Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) (the Recipient) will implement the Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs (SET4Jobs) in Eastern and Southern Africa MPA Program (the Project), as set out in the Grant Agreement. The International Development Association (the Association) has agreed to provide financing for the Project, as set out in Agreement.
  2. The Recipient shall ensure that the Project is carried out in accordance with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs) and this Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), in a manner acceptable to the Association. The ESCP is a part of the Unless otherwise defined in this ESCP, capitalized terms used in this ESCP have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
  3. Without limitation to the foregoing, ESCP sets out material measures and actions that the Recipient shall carry out or cause to be carried out, including, as applicable, their respective timeframes; institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements; and grievance management. The ESCP also sets out the environmental and social (E&S) documents that shall be prepared, consulted, disclosed and implemented under the Project, consistent with the ESSs, in form and substance acceptable to the Association. Said E&S documents may be revised from time to time with prior written agreement by the Association. As provided under the referred Agreement, the Recipient shall ensure that there are sufficient funds available to cover the costs of implementing ESCP.
  4. As agreed by the Association and the Recipient, this ESCP will be revised from time to time, if necessary, to reflect adaptive management of Project changes or unforeseen circumstances or in response to Project performance. In such circumstances, the Association and the Recipient agree to update the ESCP to reflect these changes through an exchange of letters signed between the Association and the Recipient’s Representative specified in the Agreement. The Recipient shall promptly disclose the updated ESCP.
  5. The subsection on “Indicators for Implementation Readiness” below identifies the actions and measures to be monitored to assess Project readiness to begin implementation in accordance with this ESCP. Nevertheless, all actions and measures in this ESCP shall be implemented as set out in the “Timeframe” column below irrespective of whether they are listed in the referred subsection.
    MATERIAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS TIMEFRAME RESPONSIBLE ENTITY
    IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS AND CAPACITY SUPPORT
    A ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

    Establish and maintain an organizational structure with qualified staff and resources to support management of E&S risks and impacts of the Project including the appointment of a dedicated Environmental and Social Risk Management Specialist as part of the PIU at IUCEA, in a manner that is satisfactory to the Association.

    		 Establish a PIU and Hire or appoint the Environmental and Social Risk Management Specialist prior to Project Effectiveness and thereafter maintain the PIU and these positions throughout Project implementation.

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    B CAPACITY BUILDING PLAN/MEASURES

    Prepare and implement the following capacity building measures:

    • Training for PIU staff, stakeholders, communities, Project workers, consultants on stakeholder mapping and engagement, specific aspects of environmental and social assessment, labor and working conditions, community health and safety, incident reporting and management, grievance management and SEA/SH. 
    		 Required capacity building and training to commence within 3 months after project effectiveness, and continue throughout Project implementation, with refresher training undertaken on a quarterly basis where applicable.

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    MONITORING AND REPORTING
    C REGULAR REPORTING

    Prepare and submit to the Bank regular monitoring reports on the environmental, social, health and safety (E&S) performance of the Project. The reports shall include:

    •  Status of preparation and implementation of E&S documents required under this ESCP.
    •  Summary of stakeholder engagement activities carried out as per the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
    • Complaints submitted to the grievance mechanism(s), the grievance log, and progress made in resolving them.  
    • Number and status of resolution of incidents and accidents reported under action E below.
    		  

    Submit quarterly reports to the Association throughout Project implementation, commencing after the Effective Date. Submit each report to the Association no later than 15 days after the end of each reporting period.

     

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    E INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS

    Notify the Bank of any incident or accident relating to the project which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, communities, the public or workers, including those resulting in death or significant injury to workers or the public; acts of violence, discrimination or protest; unforeseen impacts to cultural heritage or biodiversity resources; pollution of the environment; dam failure; forced or child labor; displacement without due process (forced eviction); allegations of sexual exploitation or abuse (SEA), or sexual harassment (SH); or disease outbreaks. Provide available details of the incident or accident to the Bank upon request.

    Arrange for an appropriate review of the incident or accident to establish its immediate, underlying and root causes.  Prepare, agree with the Bank, and implement a Corrective Action Plan that sets out the measures and actions to be taken to address the incident or accident and prevent their re-occurrence.

    		  

    Notify Association no later than 48 hours after learning of the incident or accident. Provide available details upon request.

     

    Provide review report and Corrective Action Plan to the Association no later than 10 days following the submission of the initial notice, unless a different timeframe is agreed to in writing by the Association.

    		  

    IUCEA

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    IUCEA
    ESS 1:  ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS
    1.1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

    Carry out the consultancy, studies, capacity building, training, and any other technical assistance activities under the Project in accordance with terms of reference acceptable to the Association, that are consistent with the ESSs. Thereafter prepare and finalize the output of such activities in compliance with the terms of reference.

    		 Throughout Project implementation

     

    		  

    IUCEA

     
    ESS 2:  LABOR AND WORKING CONDITIONS 
    2.1 LABOR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

    Prepare and implement the Labor Management Procedures (LMP) for the Project as part of the Operations Manual

    		 Prepare the LMP mechanism no later than 30 days after the Effective Date and thereafter implement the LMP throughout Project implementation.  

    IUCEA
    2.2 GRIEVANCE MECHANISM FOR PROJECT WORKERS

    Establish and operate a grievance mechanism for Project workers, as described in the LMP and consistent with ESS2. 

     

    		 Establish grievance mechanism prior engaging Project workers and thereafter maintain and operate it throughout Project implementation

     

    		 IUCEA
    ESS 3: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
    3.1 Relevant aspects of these standards shall be considered in the technical assistance activities under action 1.1. above, as relevant. Same timeframe as for action 1.1. IUCEA
    ESS 4: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
    4.1 SEA AND SH RISKS

    Prepare and implement a SEA/SH Action Plan as part of the LMP, to assess and manage the risks of SEA and SH.

    		 Same timeframe as for the preparation and implementation of the LMP IUCEA
    ESS 5-9: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY
      Relevant aspects of these standards shall be considered in the technical assistance activities under action 1.1. above, as relevant. Same timeframe as for action 1.1. IUCEA
    ESS 10: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
    10.1 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN

    Prepare, adopt and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the IUCEA operation, consistent with ESS10, which shall include measures to, inter alia, provide stakeholders with timely, relevant, understandable and accessible information, and consult with them in a culturally appropriate manner, which is free of manipulation, interference, coercion, discrimination and intimidation.

    		 Prepare the SEP prior to Appraisal and thereafter implement the SEP throughout Program implementation.

     

     

    		  

    IUCEA
    10.2 PROJECT GRIEVANCE MECHANISM

    Develop , publicize, maintain, and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances in relation to IUCEA’s operation under the program, promptly and effectively, in a transparent manner that is culturally appropriate and readily accessible to all Project-affected parties, at no cost and without retribution, including concerns and grievances filed anonymously, in a manner consistent with ESS10.  

    The grievance mechanism shall be equipped to receive, register, and facilitate the management of SEA/SH complaints, through the referral of survivors to relevant gender-based violence service providers, all in a safe, confidential, and survivor-centered manner.

     

    		 Establish the grievance mechanism no later than 30 days after the Effective Date and thereafter maintain and operate the mechanism throughout Project implementation.

     

     

     

    		  

     

     

    IUCEA
    INDICATORS FOR IMPLEMENTATION READINESS [This subsection lists the ESCP actions (by their numbering in the first column of the ESCP) that are identified as relevant to monitor project readiness from an E&S standpoint. These may include actions related to: i) establishment of E&S risk management units in the Project Implementation Entities, ii) recruitment and training of E&S staff within Project Implementation Entities, iii) Memorandums of Understanding or other written agreements/arrangements between Project Implementation Entities and other concerned agencies to ensure proper coordination of E&S risk management activities; iv) E&S effectiveness or disbursement conditions, if deemed warranted, v) ES assessments and plans to be prepared by the Borrower at the onset of implementation; vi) other project-specific requirements related to E&S readiness for implementation].
    The following actions are indicators of implementation readiness

    i) Prepare and disclose the SEP, LMP and SEA/SH Action Plan
     ii) Establish the grievance mechanism
     iii) Develop E&S monitoring and reporting templates
     iv) Train PIU staff on E&S

 

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