AUDA-NEPAD, through its Human Capital and Institutional Development (HCID) Directorate, conducted a series of focused meetings in Gaborone, Botswana, from July 10 to 12, 2024. These meetings facilitated separate engagements with key stakeholders, including the SADC Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, and WorldSkills International (WSI). Each session aimed to enhance collaboration on specific issues such as tackling tuberculosis (TB), improving primary healthcare services, and advancing vocational skills development. These discussions resulted in significant progress, underscoring a positive direction for addressing critical health and developmental challenges across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

A crucial meeting between HCID and the SADC Secretariat focused on strengthening the regional response to TB. TB remains a major health issue, particularly affecting the mining sector. However, recent success in South Africa, where targeted efforts have significantly reduced TB rates among miners as compared to TB rates in the general population, offers a promising model for the region. To replicate this success, a dedicated TB Committee has been established to spearhead the regional response. Furthermore, an innovative electronic system for monitoring and tracking TB patients as they move across borders has been introduced. Extending this system to other countries is a priority to ensure comprehensive coverage and better management of TB cases. These electronic systems include the cross-border surveillance system (CBRS), the SADC TB dashboard and the AU Occupational Safety and Health Information System (AU-OSHIS).

In addition, the Director of HCID requested the SADC secretariat to take ownership of the World Skills conference scheduled to take place in March 2025 in Livingstone, Zambia.  He emphasized the importance of this event in enhancing vocational skills and job readiness among young Africans, which will contribute significantly to regional economic development. He called on the SADC Secretariat to take ownership of the event, ensuring robust participation and collaboration from all member states to make the conference a landmark success.

Key outcomes from the meeting include SADC’s commitment to collaborate with AUDA-NEPAD to strengthen governance and the decision to regularly review TB progress, especially in the mining sector. These collective actions are aimed at making substantial strides in combating TB and improving health outcomes within the SADC region. The emphasis on cross-border collaboration and technology-driven solutions highlights the region’s dedication to innovative approaches in tackling health challenges.

The meeting with SADC also provided an opportunity for AUDA-NEPAD to introduce and obtain buy-in of the secretariat towards the co-creation and design of a continental primary healthcare program aimed at enhancing skills and capabilities of community health workers to effectively and efficiently deliver primary health services including occupational health, basic  essential screening, diagnostic, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitation services.

In a separate meeting with the Ministry of Health, the Permanent Secretary and his team underscored their commitment to enhancing primary healthcare services. The Ministry highlighted the importance of robust indicators to measure progress and the challenges posed by malaria, TB and other occupational lung diseases. Efforts to establish a functional supply chain and local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependency on external sources were also discussed. AUDA-NEPAD's support in building regulatory capacity and strengthening health systems in order to achieve Maturity Level 3 (ML3) across the continent was highlighted, with references made to the successes of South Africa, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.

The Ministry emphasized the need for a focal person to facilitate communication with AUDA-NEPAD, particularly concerning a regional grant for global health, and the expansion of occupational health initiatives beyond the mining sector. The discussion on establishing a functional supply chain and local pharmaceutical manufacturing is particularly significant in ensuring that the region can sustainably manage its health needs. The Ministry’s commitment to having continuous engagements and the political involvement in these initiatives further reinforces the seriousness with which these issues are being addressed. Moreover, the ministry is committed to integrate occupational health and safety (OHS) into primary healthcare, improve OHS policy and the program for healthcare workers in Botswana.

These engagements also highlighted the critical need for local production of essential medicines, a lesson underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts are underway to establish a market facilitation framework to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing. This initiative aims to prioritize generating a list of 24 health products necessary for screening, treatment, diagnostics, and prevention of diseases. The potential impact of this initiative is vast, as it promises to reduce dependency on imported medical products and enhance the region’s ability to manage its health products needs sustainably.

The meeting with the Ministry concluded with a commitment to ongoing collaboration and the implementation of discussed strategies. AUDA-NEPAD and the Government of Botswana will collaborate on local manufacturing methodologies. The emphasis on continuous improvement and adaptation was evident throughout the discussions, underscoring the region's dedication to tackling health challenges, fostering sustainable development, and enhancing vocational skills among the youth.

Moreover, one of the crucial meetings that took place under HCID during this week was the review of the African Occupational Standards Framework (AOSF), which was a key highlight. Mr. Symerre Grey-Johnson, Director of HCID, emphasized the importance of aligning job demands with the work readiness of youth exiting the education system. He stated, "As Africa's youth population continues to grow, we have a responsibility to ensure that our young people are equipped with the skills required by the job market. Tackling unemployment and bridging the skills gap are essential for the continent's prosperity." He linked this initiative to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aspires for socio-economic development supported by robust policy frameworks and institutional capabilities. The two-day workshop encouraged participants to identify effective strategies and forge partnerships to develop a framework that better links education systems to job demands.

This focus on the AOSF aligns with AUDA-NEPAD’s commitment to vocational skills development as a driver of economic growth. The collaboration with WSI since 2021 has been instrumental in this effort. The WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS) framework, developed to benchmark occupational performance from competence to excellence, provides a robust model for the AOSF. Both frameworks share an aspirational view of human and social capital, addressing socio-economic demands and future challenges.

Over the last decade, the WSOS has gained international attention for its ability to effectively capture the core aspects of various occupations, including a wide range of relevant skills and behaviours, and focus on meaningful assessments. The WSOS are carefully managed and protected to ensure they are used correctly and effectively.

The WSOS will play a crucial role in the upcoming World Skills Africa event. Stakeholders recognize the importance of this meeting in preparing for the event, which aims to boost vocational skills and job readiness among young Africans, supporting regional economic development. It will provide a platform to showcase the progress in aligning education systems with job demands and fostering a skilled workforce ready for future challenges.

In conclusion, the recent bilateral meetings in Gaborone have set the stage for transformative changes in the SADC region. The collaborative efforts between AUDA-NEPAD, the SADC Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, and WorldSkills International promise to drive significant progress toward the goals of Agenda 2063. These initiatives, focused on health, sustainability, and vocational skills development, hold the potential to bring about meaningful improvements in health outcomes, economic development, and overall quality of life for the people in the SADC region. As these initiatives advance, they will play a pivotal role in shaping a brighter future for the region.

For more information, contact: NqobileZ@nepad.org