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Abstract

Africa’s youthful population is an unparalleled asset of opportunity, offering the continent a unique chance to shape its future. Those under age 35 account for 75% of the continent’s population, and by 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42% of the world’s youth. As the global population ages, Africa’s youthful workforce could drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity, positioning the continent as a future leader in the global economy. However, realizing this potential requires significant investment in education, skills development, and job creation to ensure that Africa’s young people are equipped to seize the opportunities ahead and contribute to the continent’s and world’s prosperity.

Capacity-building is a long-term process. In 2009, the United Nations University (UNU) jointly with 8 African universities, initiated ESDA (Education for Sustainable Development in Africa) for training next-generation leaders through Master’s studies on sustainable development with the support of the Japanese Government. When ESDA Master’s programs formally started in 2012, a Next Generation Researcher (NGR) team was formed with young faculty members of the partner universities to provide research and education backstopping for the Master’s programs. African Development Bank has supported this entire process through its Japan Trust Fund. This presentation will be an appraisal from the donor’s point of view (by the Bank staff concerned) of this accompanying process and outcome of ESDA, with a particular focus on the role of NGR, and how NGR could play a pivotal role in producing African and Global leaders.

About the speaker

Dr. Keiko Takei
Chief Education Analyst, Education and Skills Development Division, African Development Bank

Keiko TAKEI is a Chief Education Analyst, at the Education and Skills Development Division of the African Development Bank. She has over 18 years of experience in international education and development finance. In recent years, the focus of her work has been specifically on international cooperation in the education sector and human development, policy formulation and implementation of projects covering Higher Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Science Technology Innovation, Information Communication Technology, Research & Development, Teacher Training etc. She has significant work experience with international financial development institutions including the World Bank (Headquarters: Washington DC, USA) and the African Development Bank/AfDB (Headquarters: both in Tunis, Tunisia and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire). Keiko has led teams and developed a significant portfolio of projects and initiatives in the education sector that are at the forefront of international best practices and promote skills development and entrepreneurship on the continent.
Currently, Keiko is a Task Manager for the Pan African University (PAU) Phase 2 project (around 103 million USD) and the Sudan education emergency projects. Keiko is also leading AfDB’s Education division’s partnership programmes, coordinating with 54 African Regional Member States and fundraising and establishing a new special fund with the African Union. This initiative includes the African Education Science Technology Innovation Fund (AESTIF) and the implementation of the Skills for Employment and Productivity in Africa (SEPA) Action Plan, within the framework of the Transforming Education Summit (TES), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063, entitled “The Africa We Want”.
Keiko has received a Professional Doctorate in International Education from the University of Sussex (UK). During her doctoral studies, she produced her doctoral thesis in 2016 titled “The Production of Skills for the Agricultural Sector in Tanzania: The Alignment of the Provision of Technical, Vocational Education and Training with the Demand for Workforce Skills and Knowledge for Rice Production” from University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. She has a Master’s degree in Political Science from Western Michigan University (US) in 2005. She also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan. She became a certified Elementary School Teacher by receiving the Elementary School Teacher First Class License from the Government of Japan, Ministry of Education in 2003 and simultaneously, received the BA with honours.