BERLIN, WASHINGTON D.C., July 15, 2024 - German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze, and World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, have agreed to strengthen their partnership under a joint initiative to support education and skills development in the Sahel.
The Sahel is one of the world’s most youthful regions. With more than 58 million people below the age of 25 years, the region can tap into the talent of its vibrant youth. However, the region faces a learning crisis compounded by limited state capacity and persistent conflict that disrupts education delivery and other essential services.
Across the region, nearly 40% of children of primary school age are not in school. Over 11,000 schools have closed due to conflicts or direct threats against educational staff. The quality of education is also affected; nearly 90% of children by the end of their primary education are unable to read and understand an age-appropriate sentence, highlighting a severe lack of foundational literacy and numeracy. Consequently, many of the approximately 1.4 million young people entering the labor force each year across the Sahel do not possess relevant job market skills.
"We therefore need to act now," stated Schulze. "Investments in education and vocational training are critical to equip the growing young population in the Sahel for the future workforce."
The World Bank and Germany have agreed to join forces to address this learning crisis and promote greater opportunities for young people through a new joint Sahel-Alliance flagship initiative. This initiative aims to: (i) expand access to quality education with a focus on girls, refugees, IDPs, and nomad children; (ii) increase trained educators in STEM fields; (iii) strengthen Sahelian education systems and enhance regional collaboration.
The joint initiative is structured around three main priorities:
1. Building Flexible and Resilient Pathways for Youth: The initiative will support developing the Sahel Open School to improve access to quality education for nomads, cross-border workers, displaced persons, refugees, youth with special needs, and other out-of-school children. This model ensures continuity of schooling across borders through vocational and technical training targeting two million out-of-school children.
2. Training STEM Professionals through Africa Centers of Excellence (ACEs): In collaboration with existing ACEs, this engagement will offer higher education services in five Sahel countries to prepare future STEM teachers and workers in key growth sectors.
3. Stepping up Education Reforms and Strengthening Regional Collaboration: The joint engagement will help establish a Sahel regional institute merging applied research, professional training, policy advice, and knowledge sharing. It aims at adopting high-impact education reforms benefiting millions of students across Sahelian countries.
Currently, the World Bank’s portfolio supporting education opportunities in the Sahel includes US$1.635 billion in national and regional projects addressing key gaps in education sectors. This builds on analyses like the Sahel Education White Paper and Regional Education Strategy for Western and Central Africa. Germany supports basic education through multilateral funds such as Education Cannot Wait (ECW) with €328.8 million since 2017 as its largest donor. Additionally contributing €321 million from 2021-2026 makes Germany GPE's fourth-largest donor currently.
To operationalize this collaboration further, a new fund called Sahel and West African Coastal Countries Fund (SAWACC) is being established by the World Bank with German support focusing on addressing learning crises while advancing educational initiatives across these regions.
"Actions are already underway," said Diagana. "But more concerted efforts are needed to promote a better future for Sahelian youth."