The World Bank has launched a $972 million program aimed at equipping 18 million young people in eastern and southern Africa with skills for employment by 2034, officials announced February 26, 2026. The initiative, known as the Skills for Economic Transformation and Jobs Program (SET4Jobs), will provide financing through the International Development Association (IDA).
The program responds to a critical need for job creation in a region where approximately eight million young people enter the labor market annually, yet fewer than one million secure waged employment. Around 6.5 million youth are currently neither in school nor employed, with women representing 3.6 million of that number, according to the World Bank.
SET4Jobs will operate over eight years, utilizing a multi-phase approach to align skills development with growth sectors including agribusiness, energy, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing. The program will support participating countries through investment projects and policy reforms designed to foster a more business-friendly environment and attract private capital.
“SET4Jobs is a transformative investment in Africa’s greatest resource – its youth,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa. “Working closely with the private sector, we will aid align training with growing industries….”
Initial investment projects are planned for Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, and Zambia. Regional coordination will be overseen by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), with a mandate to strengthen collaboration in higher education, technical training, research, and innovation. Idris Rai, acting executive secretary of IUCEA, stated the initiative will position universities and training institutions as “engines for employment and shared prosperity” by better aligning curricula with industry demands.
Beyond skills training, the program will support broader economic reforms focused on infrastructure development, productivity enhancements, and improvements to the overall business climate. A regional knowledge exchange platform will also be established to facilitate the sharing of policy lessons and successful approaches among participating countries.
The World Bank indicated that advisory support will be provided by both the IDA and the International Finance Corporation, with the intention of attracting additional public and private financing as the program progresses. The Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) for the program, designated P510027, is currently in place.
