Sierra Leone has presented its strategy for preparing young people for employment in a rapidly changing global economy at an international youth forum in Rabat, Morocco.

Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara represented Sierra Leone at the fifth Youth Knowledge Forum, where ministers, policymakers, experts and young people gathered to discuss employment, sustainability and the future of skills.

The two-day forum, held at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), was organized by ICESCO, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Speaking on the theme “Your Career in a Changing World,” Aziz-Kamara said Sierra Leone is focusing on technical skills, digital transformation, entrepreneurship and inclusive access to opportunities as part of its response to changing employment patterns.

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He said governments must move beyond education systems that focus mainly on academic qualifications and instead equip young people with practical skills, entrepreneurial capacity and the ability to adapt to emerging opportunities.

Aziz-Kamara highlighted areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital entrepreneurship, ICT and the green economy as sectors creating new possibilities for young people.

He also outlined Sierra Leone’s youth employment measures, including the expansion of technical and vocational education, apprenticeships, internships and work-based learning. The government’s Youth Employment Scheme (YES), he said, targets the creation of 500,000 new jobs for young people by 2030.

The Deputy Minister further highlighted plans to expand the Dual Apprenticeship Programme, with a target of placing 5,000 apprentices by 2027 in sectors such as tourism, construction, agribusiness and renewable energy.

He stressed that youth opportunities must be inclusive, with access to education, technical training and digital learning extended regardless of gender, disability, location or socioeconomic circumstances.

Aziz-Kamara said Sierra Leone’s approach is informed by the country’s experience of conflict and other crises, as well as more recent challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruptions, climate emergencies and rapid technological change.

He said resilience, lifelong learning, critical thinking, creativity, communication, teamwork and problem-solving are essential alongside technical knowledge if young people are to succeed in the future labour market.

The forum, held under the theme “From Crisis to Sustainability,” also explored global crises, labour-market transformation and the widening gap between education and employment.

The event featured a digital-twin model connecting participants in Rabat with centres in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation.

Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Morocco, Alhaji Momodu Koroma, was among the dignitaries who attended the forum.