The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a new continental network of master trainers aimed at strengthening work-based learning systems across Africa and improving pathways to decent employment.
The initiative was officially launched during a five-day workshop held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25 to 29 May 2026, bringing together 20 trainers from across the continent to design practical training modules focused on vocational education and workplace-based skills development.
According to the International Labour Organization, the new Master Trainer Network is designed to help countries improve technical and vocational education and training systems, expand quality apprenticeships, and strengthen collaboration between training institutions and employers.
The programme focuses on addressing key challenges in work-based learning, including limited access to apprenticeships, weak employer engagement, and gaps in coordination between education systems and labour market needs. It also emphasizes inclusion, gender equality, and sustainable financing of skills development systems.
Participants co-developed training materials tailored to African labour market realities, ensuring that the content can be adapted to national contexts. These materials will support capacity building across training institutions, employer organizations, and workforce development stakeholders.
The initiative is part of the broader Strategic Skills Partnership Initiative for Innovation and Excellence in Vocational Education and Training, supported under the Global Vocational Education and Training Agenda and funded by German development partners.
ILO officials highlighted that work-based learning plays a critical role in equipping young people with practical skills aligned to labour market demands, but access to high-quality opportunities remains uneven across many countries.
The new network is expected to help scale up quality apprenticeship systems and improve cooperation between public and private sector actors, supporting more inclusive and productive labour markets.
Following the Abuja workshop, the training modules will undergo further refinement and validation before being rolled out across participating countries, where master trainers will pilot and adapt them to local needs.
Overall, the initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening Africa’s skills development ecosystem and expanding opportunities for decent work through improved vocational and workplace learning systems.
