50×35

Rationale: 50 by 35

The 50 by 35 Initiative will bridge the talent gap

The 50 by 35 Initiative will bridge the talent gap by convening stakeholders and accelerating
the building of an African talent pipeline that is adaptable, resilient, and equipped with the
skills to thrive in the 21st century’s rapidly evolving knowledge economy. As the global economy pivots towards advanced technologies in an era of AI, climate change, and global health emergencies, opportunities for work are growing in sectors ranging from clean energy to semiconductor manufacturing to clean energy and public health.

These are fields in which the global African diaspora is often underrepresented. This leads to demand for skilled talent and calls for increased training to fill existing jobs and investment in collaborations between industry and higher learning to develop tailored curriculum to prepare learners and workers for new and emerging fields of work. Together with partners, we will facilitate:

● Investing with a talent lens, including developing African talent for the relevant vertical at all sectors, ranging from leadership to entry-level jobs. They will be expanding skilling and tertiary education to fill identified workforce gaps across areas including technology and AI, health and education, and sustainability and climate areas;
● Providing specialised training (TVET, universities, industry), including in STEM fields, to meet identified gaps;
● Creating pathways to global opportunity for the African workforce, including through financing, recruiting, and placement.