Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe will host the 2026 Africa Skills Week in Harare next month, bringing together governments, industry, academia and development partners as the continent steps up efforts to turn skills development into a driver of industrialization, employment and economic growth.
The continental skills development event will run from October 12 to 16 at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) under the theme “Skills for Resilient and Competitive African Industries: From Training to Value Creation.”
The Ministry of Skills Audit and Development said the event would provide a platform for African countries and other stakeholders to explore ways of strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET), improving employability and aligning skills development with the continent’s industrialization ambitions.
The week is expected to attract African governments, industry leaders, academia, youth and women entrepreneurs, civil society and development partners, with discussions focusing on how Africa can move beyond training people to creating practical economic value from their skills.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development, Ambassador Rudo Chitiga, said hosting the event presented Zimbabwe with an opportunity to showcase its progress while opening avenues for investment and partnerships.
“Hosting Africa Skills Week 2026 offers Zimbabwe a distinctive chance to highlight its advancements in skills governance and innovation, while elevating its global standing as a centre for knowledge and industrial transformation,” she said.
The Africa Skills Week was officially institutionalized in 2024 after African Union Ministers responsible for Education and Training adopted it as an annual continental event.
It forms part of the African Union Decade of Skills and Jobs (2025-2034) and seeks to harmonize skills systems, strengthen TVET and align training with industrial development and the opportunities emerging from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Zimbabwe becomes the third country to host Africa Skills Week, following Ghana in 2024 and Ethiopia in 2025.
Ambassador Chitiga said the gathering would also facilitate high-level bilateral and multilateral engagements around skills, employment, industrialization and investment.
The Ministry has called on exhibitors and partners to participate in the event, which it says will provide an important platform for policy dialogue, partnerships and innovation in skills development across Africa.
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