Program Officer – TVET & Skills Development

About the role

The Program Officer – TVET & Skills Development will provide strategic, technical and operational support for the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa, the Continental TVET Strategy and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa. Based in Addis Ababa, the role focuses on policy harmonisation, member‑state support, programme development, partnership coordination and results‑based management of education and skills initiatives across the continent.

Key responsibilities

• Support the rollout of the Continental Education and TVET strategies, including roadmaps, action plans and flagship initiatives.
• Provide technical advisory services to AU leadership, Member States and Regional Economic Communities on education, TVET and skills‑development policy reforms.
• Coordinate continental clusters and technical working groups on TVET, higher education and skills development.
• Promote work‑based learning, cooperative training and industry‑led curriculum development to align TVET outputs with private‑sector demand.
• Assist in policy harmonisation, quality assurance and the development of occupational standards, competency‑based assessment, certification systems and Recognition of Prior Learning.
• Translate continental strategies into investable national and regional programmes, supporting project development with development partners and finance institutions.
• Manage multi‑stakeholder partnerships with development agencies, RECs, private sector and technical agencies.
• Provide technical support for monitoring, evaluation, reporting and results‑based management of education and skills programmes.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Development Studies or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in TVET policy, programme management or international development.
• Demonstrated experience working with governments, regional bodies or multilateral organisations.
• Strong analytical and policy‑writing skills, with ability to produce high‑quality reports and briefing notes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑engagement abilities, including experience facilitating technical working groups.

Required skills

• Knowledge of outcome‑based education and training (OBET) frameworks.
• Experience with competency‑based assessment, certification systems and occupational standards development.
• Familiarity with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) processes.
• Ability to conduct policy analysis and harmonisation across diverse Member States.
• Experience coordinating multi‑stakeholder partnerships and technical working groups.