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Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has joined the World Bank Group’s High‑Level Advisory Council on Jobs, reinforcing Africa’s role in global dialogues on youth employment.
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Invited by World Bank President Ajay Banga, Dr. Ould Tah participated in the council meeting held during the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. African Development Bank+1
His participation comes midway through his first 100 days in office—an early signal of AfDB’s intention to elevate jobs, youth prospects, and inclusive opportunity as central pillars of Africa’s growth strategy. African Development Bank+1
“Africa’s youth are not a burden to manage; they are the engine of our continent’s future,” Dr. Ould Tah said. “We need to invest in the right skills, formalise the informal economy, and back MSMEs at scale.” African Development Bank+1
Focus on Tourism & Skilling: Sectors with Untapped Potential
This year, the Jobs Council prioritized tourism and skilling—areas where Africa has significant room to grow. Africa Newsroom+2African Development Bank+2
- Tourism: Already supports 1 in 20 jobs across Africa, but over 80% of workers in tourism operate informally—without access to financing, social protection, or clear career paths. Africa Newsroom+1
- Skilling: Persistent misalignment between formal education and market needs undermines youth access to gainful employment. Africa Newsroom+1
Dr. Ould Tah used the platform to highlight AfDB’s portfolio of job‑creation initiatives and tools designed to track job quality and inclusion across its projects. African Development Bank+1
AfDB’s Employment Agenda: Strategy, Tools & Impact
To accelerate youth-led growth, AfDB is rolling out multiple complementary strategies:
- Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy: Mobilised over US$105 billion and projected to generate 19 million jobs by end-2025. Africa Newsroom+1
- Youth, Skills and Jobs Marker System: A new monitoring tool to ensure job quality, inclusion, and measurable impact in AfDB‑financed development projects. African Development Bank+1
- Tourism-driven MSME support: Building capacity in micro, small, and medium enterprises within the tourism value chain. African Development Bank+1
- Digital-first skill programs: Equipping youth with capabilities in technology, data, creativity, and future‑oriented industries. Africa Newsroom+1
Dr. Ould Tah’s presence in the council is part of a broader diplomatic agenda during the Annual Meetings, including bilateral talks with ministers, development partners, and corporate leaders. African Development Bank+1
His participation also aligns with AfDB’s Four Cardinal Points strategic priorities:
- Mobilising capital at scale
- Unifying markets (regional integration)
- Local industrialisation
- Investing in talent and technology African Development Bank+1
Why This Matters: Youth as Africa’s Economic Engine
- Africa’s demographic dividend presents a unique opportunity—if the youth population is empowered with jobs and skills.
- By centring tourism and vocational training in this discussion, global and African leaders are acknowledging that inclusive economic growth must reach sectors beyond finance or infrastructure.
- Tools that embed inclusion, job quality, and tracking into development spending help ensure that growth is sustainable and equitable.
- With Africa’s youth population rising, strategic interventions now may define the continent’s trajectory for decades to come.
