What continental human capital summit will bring to TZ
TANZANIA stands to register significant benefits by playing host to African Heads of State Summit on Human Capital from July 25th to 26th, this year.
Already, the stage is set for African leaders to gather in Dar es Salaam in their joint bid to convince interested parties to prioritise investment in Africa’s human capital.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Dr Stergomena Tax told journalists in Dar es Salaam on Monday that the government in collaboration with the World Bank will host the summit at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).
She said the summit will be conducted in two main sessions – on July 25th, sector-specific Ministers involved in human resource issues will convene, followed by the Heads of State and Government meeting on July 26th. Through these sessions, participants will explore strategies to improve learning outcomes, enhance skills development, and bolster productivity among the youth, she said.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially launched the summit groundwork on May 19th 2023 and the summit climax is expected to be on July 25-26 this year,” said Dr Tax.
She added that the summit will be staged under the theme “Accelerating Africa’s Economic Growth: Boosting Youth Productivity by Improving Learning Skills and Productivity of Youths.”
The overall theme of the Summit is linking investments in human capital to economic growth and harnessing the demographic dividend, by addressing learning poverty and the skills gap for youths and women.
According to Dr Tax, the Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit comes in response to engagements with government focal points on the need to draw attention to the role of human capital in economic growth and elevate the discussion on the importance of investing in people.
She said the summit will bring together Heads of State, ministers of finance, and representatives from sectors contributing to human resource development.
Notably, she said human capital coordinators from all African countries will participate alongside distinguished guests from the United Nations, the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Union Commission. Dr Tax said the summit will come up with Dar es Salaam Declaration on Human Capital.
She said human capital was crucial for the continent to attain real development, saying the idea is to see the workforce as a capital asset and dividend of the nations.
“Time is now, for African countries to bring their strategies together and invest heavily in human capital. Tanzania is making good progress through investing in key sectors such as education and health because the prosperity of any country highly depends on a healthy and well educated human resource,” she said.
She said statistics indicate that over 75 per cent of Africans are children and youths under the age of 25, representing a vast workforce with tremendous potential for the continent’s development.
“Recognising this opportunity, the Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit aims to facilitate discussions, exchange experiences, and foster commitments to invest in human capital. By doing so, African nations can unleash the full potential of their human resources, contributing to sustained economic growth and the overall development of their countries.
Furthermore, the summit seeks to shed light on the pivotal role of investing in people as a fundamental driver of productivity and growth.
Acknowledging the importance of gender equality, the summit will emphasise its significance in achieving human capital outcomes. Investing in women, children, and adolescents is key to unlocking their potential, promoting inclusive growth, and advancing their rights. Addressing gender disparities remains crucial, particularly considering the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on girls and vulnerable households.
“While Tanzania is spearheading this vital summit, it also recognises the opportunity it presents for Tanzanians, especially those in the private sector. Efforts have been made to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurs and businesspeople, particularly residents of Dar es Salaam, to benefit from the influx of delegates from across Africa and beyond,” said the minister.
