African Development Bank Group (AfDB) President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah joined global leaders on the World Bank Group’s High-Level Advisory Council on Jobs, advocating for Africa’s youth to become a driving force for economic transformation.
Invited by World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, Dr. Ould Tah participated in the meeting held alongside the 2025 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. The Council convenes heads of international institutions, ministers, and business leaders to promote job creation through impactful investments.
Marking the midpoint of his first 100 days in office, Dr. Ould Tah reiterated AfDB’s commitment to placing jobs, youth, and opportunity at the heart of Africa’s growth strategy. “Africa’s youth are not a burden to manage; they are the engine of our continent’s future,” he said.
This year’s Jobs Council focused on tourism and skills development—two sectors with immense potential to generate sustainable employment. Despite tourism supporting one in 20 jobs across Africa, over 80% of workers remain in the informal sector without access to finance or social protection.
AfDB’s “Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy” has mobilized over $105 billion in financing and is projected to create 19 million jobs by the end of 2025. The Bank has also launched a Youth, Skills and Jobs Marker System to track job quality and inclusion across projects.
Dr. Ould Tah emphasized that investing in skills, formalizing the informal sector, and empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are critical to unlocking Africa’s demographic dividend.
Source: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
