Building human capital for a modern, collaborative Africa–Europe partnership

Skills development is now recognised by both Europe and Africa as a strategic pillar of their partnership, moving well beyond traditional donor–recipient models. Current EU priorities—including the EU–Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, the AU–EU Innovation Agenda (2023), the European Skills Agenda, Horizon Europe actions, and the outcomes of the European Year of Skills (2023)—position human capital as central to innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable development on both continents.

The European Parliament has repeatedly emphasised that the future Africa–Europe partnership must put education, training, and employability at its core. This includes expanded teacher training, reducing early school leaving, and strengthening the participation of girls and women in science and innovation. Skills development is therefore not only a social priority but a critical investment in green and digital transitions, industrial development, and resilient health systems.

A strengthened Africa–Europe skills partnership should focus on:

• Education and teacher training, particularly in STEM, digital literacy, and emerging technologies.

• Inclusion of girls and young women, aligning with both African national STEM strategies and EU gender equality frameworks.

• Vocational education and training (VET), with pathways to green jobs, digital jobs, and innovation-driven careers.

• Mobility schemes—through Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and future FP10 programmes—to expand opportunities for African students, researchers, and innovators.

• Health workforce development, ensuring that digital and clinical skills keep pace with 21st-century health system needs.

• Entrepreneurship and innovation skills, enabling youth and researchers to contribute to sustainable agri-food systems, climate resilience, digital transformation, and local industrial development.

At the continental level, the AU–EU Innovation Agenda highlights the need for joint centres of excellence, digital learning platforms, and innovation ecosystems that help build scientific and technical capabilities across Africa.

Within this landscape, AERAP plays a practical role by connecting African and European universities, research organisations, training institutions, and innovation hubs. Through meetings, workshops, Science Summit sessions, and thematic clusters, AERAP helps:

• identify skills and training opportunities associated with EU-funded programmes;

• facilitate African participation in Horizon Europe, FP10, Erasmus+, Global Gateway and NDICI opportunities;

• support research training and mobility between African and European institutions;

• promote skills development in digital health, biodiversity monitoring, agro-food innovation, space science, and AI, ensuring alignment with thematic priorities across the partnership.

Strengthening human capital is therefore a cornerstone for an equitable, innovative, and long-term Africa–Europe partnership, enabling both continents to address shared global challenges through a skilled, connected, and empowered scientific workforce.