Snorre Westagaard (CEO, HPPI) was a panelist discussing the Positioning Skills Development as a Priority for Africa at a side event organised by the African Union at their permanent mission during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 24th September 2024.

The panelists emphasised the importance of skill development addressing the need of emerging industries, the inclusion of broad personal skills enabling the trainees to adapt and keep on re-learning, entrepreneurship and the need for need based short courses. Snorre Westgaard added to discussion by highlighting the importance of vocational training as an important pathway for making African Youth as potential leaders of development in their communities. Vocational training can lead to greater access to well-paying jobs and also inspire entrepreneurship. It can change the lives of young people as well as their communities. This is especially important as they play an important role in addressing climate change and adapting agriculture practices to our new realities.

While focusing on TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training), the event showcased how the private sector, in collaboration with organisations like HPPI and others, can drive a new era of sustainable and equitable development by investing in skills education in Africa.