AFRICAN FUTURE
SKILLS INDABA
Global Human Capital Chamber

Inter-Ministerial Conclave (the ministerial and VIP delegation)

Ministers table eight national workforce plans as National Showcases and work through three policy questions: regional qualification harmonisation (scaling EASTRIP benchmarks), state-backed work-integrated learning tax incentives, and public-private funding consortia.

Room
Breakout Room 5 (Days Two and Three)
Co-chairs
The host minister and the Multilateral & Development Partner
Access
Closed, Chatham House Rule
Showcase format
Eight National Showcases of 25 minutes each: 15 minutes for the minister to table the five-year JET and digital workforce master plan using a common template; 5 minutes of peer review by a peer minister from another region; 5 minutes of co-investment signals, where funders show a green card (ready to explore), amber card (need more information) or no card, and log the same signal in the app.
Day Two · 09:30 to 13:00

Session 1: Sovereign Workforce Plans

Breakout Room 5. Output: Co-investment signals that set the lunch-hour bilaterals

Opening of the ConclaveRules of the room, the Showcase format and signal cards, the Chamber's three outputs, and a reminder that each government commits publicly at 16:30. · Co-chairs
National Showcases 1 and 2Economies 1 and 2 table their master plans (09:40 and 10:05). · Minister and delegation; peer minister; funders
Tea breakIn the room.
National Showcases 3 to 7Economies 3 to 7 table their master plans (10:50, 11:15, 11:40, 12:05, 12:30). · Minister and delegation; peer minister; funders
Morning Signals Read-outThe strongest co-investment signals are read out to set the lunch-hour bilaterals. · Co-chairs
Day Two · 14:00 to 16:00

Session 2: From Master Plans to Co-Investment

Breakout Room 5. Output: Draft principles for the Credential Portability & Harmonisation Protocols; strongest WIL models for the Communiqué; draft government commitments

National Showcase 8Economy 8 tables its master plan. · Minister and delegation; peer minister; funders
Ministerial Roundtable: One Continent, One QualificationA 10-minute brief on scaling EASTRIP benchmarks and cross-border recognition, then a 30-minute ministers' roundtable. · Migration & Mobility Partner; ministers; qualifications authorities
The Policy Swap: WIL Incentives That WorkedAbout two minutes per minister: one work-integrated learning tax incentive or employer scheme that worked, and one that failed. · Ministers; Anchor Institutional Partner
The Signals MapAll eight Showcases on one screen, with the matches proposed for the Day Three breakfast deal tables. · Co-chairs, APEA rapporteur
Sovereign Commitments ClinicEach minister finalises the one named, time-bound government commitment they will make at 16:30. · Ministers, APEA rapporteur
Day Three · 12:30 to 13:30

Session 3: The Ministerial Communiqué Session

Breakout Room 5. Output: AFSI 2027 Communiqué; endorsed portability principles; named funding consortia entered in the Compact

Co-chairs' recapWhat the Showcases, the Policy Swap and the Summit produced. · Co-chairs
Harmonisation endorsementThe draft portability principles are presented and each minister endorses or enters a reservation. Endorsed principles pass to Network Working Group 5. · Migration & Mobility Partner, ministers
Funding consortia formalisedThe strongest co-investment matches become named public-private funding consortia, each with a lead government and a lead funder, entered in the Compact. · Ministers, DFIs, Anchor Institutional Partner
Communiqué contributionThe Chamber's text for the AFSI 2027 Communiqué is read and adopted, with reservations noted. · Co-chairs, APEA rapporteur
CloseMinisters and the Anchor Institutional Partner move to the Auditorium.
National Showcases

Eight economies present, plus two reserves, chosen through an open call rather than invitation alone.

Call to Governments

Selection criteria

  • A real plan (required): a national skills, JET or digital workforce plan covering at least five years, adopted or in final draft
  • Ministerial presence (required): a minister or deputy minister presents in person
  • Money on the table (required): government already budgets for part of the plan
  • Regional spread: ideally Southern (2), East (2), West (2), Central (1) and North Africa (1)
  • Language spread: at least two Francophone and one Lusophone economy
  • Economic mix: energy-transition economies, critical-mineral producers and digital hubs

Timeline

  1. Call for expressions of interest through the African Union Commission, the regional economic communities (SADC, EAC, ECOWAS, ECCAS and the Arab Maghreb Union), ministries of education, higher education and labour, and African embassies in Pretoria.
  2. Expressions of interest close (a two-page outline signed at ministerial level).
  3. Eight economies and two reserves selected.
  4. Selected economies confirm their minister's attendance.
  5. Showcase brief and slide deck submitted.
  6. Timed virtual rehearsal.