“Career and Professional Development using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)” Developing an online Africa Career Guidance service Funto Akinkugbe AfricaRecruit November 2006

Content Who we are Our Achievements Online Career Guidance Vision Online Career Guidance features Current state of Africa Career Guidance System Recommendations from the past Progress and Next steps (Baseline and survey) How do you come in? How are the stakeholders engage Sustainable model Future development area

Who we are (AfricaRecruit): Formally launched in 2002, as an offshoot of that was established in Mobilization programme launched as a joint project of the Commonwealth Business Council and NEPAD. The Commonwealth Secretariat became a project partner in March AfricaRecruit mobilizes skills and human resource capacity building in and outside of Africa. It also facilitates the African Diaspora towards capacity building in Africa either through skills or investment in areas such as remittances with joint partners such as Africa Business Roundtable,

Our Achievements: 5 successful HR forums see reports at Extensive Database of over 150,000 people, 600+ Universities Worldwide & 1,800+ Organisations with interests in Africa. International career/recruitment fair’s, (forthcoming South Africa 23 & 24 October 2006 Human Resource and Skills Management using ICT) Return of over 500 Africans in the Diaspora/year and skills within Africa Regularly contribute to policy and operational issues/topics e.g.NEPAD’s newsletter, International Development policy, AU newsletter, Commonwealth Secretariat Report, Commonwealth Business Council etc.

Online Career Guidance Vision Online career guidance service accessible to Students in Africa Access to information on Developing core competencies and skills in areas of demand. Create awareness of current and future job opportunities and internships opportunities in Africa

Online Career Guidance Services Searchable Database of Career Profiles Industry Overview In Country Opportunities On Emerging Markets Growth Areas/Areas of Skill Shortages Skills and interest assessments Online Career Guidance Counsel (advisory) Resume/CV fundamentals Interviewing techniques Career Advancement Skills

Online Career Guidance Features Published Information Q & A Bulletin Board Online counseling surgery Monthly Newsletters On-Site Workshops

Current state of the African Career Guidance System Lack of Career guidance and awareness of the current job opportunities Insufficient number of Africans studying and developing core competencies in areas of demand Choosing of a career path based on limited knowledge and information The attraction of critical skills and qualified personnel to the West through the use of online advertising to attract much needed skills of technocrats to the West Inadequate access to Career Advice in Africa college and universities has resulted in

Recommendation from past “Developing innovative schemes such as internships, executive sabbaticals, interim’s and voluntary jobs” African Government to assess job needs and critical requirements which should be made available to all Africans- Nigeria 1-2 December 2003 Development of Africa’s Skills Database Create an enabling environment for skill development London, United Kingdom 10 th – 11 th March 2005 Set up a skills Development agency……to exert considerable influence over the supply of relevant training and education and more importantly, is based on a true representation of each sector’s need. Johannesburg, South Africa, 7 th -8 th September 2004

Progress and Next Steps Baseline analysis of the role of ICT in enabling and harnessing career professional development (through the use of a survey) Form a consultation group Development of Pilot site study in 3 African countries.

Progress and Next Steps 301 Recognised Universities in Africa 12% have career centres. (85% of these are based in Southern African Countries with a substantial number located in South Africa.) 34% have a website 1a: Establishing the baseline analysis through the survey (See below for survey result thus far)

Progress and Next Steps The survey was sent out to 10,000 + African based undergraduates and graduates Africa replied (10%) to date Mode of dissemination: Hardcopies through networks at various Africa Universities, African student associations i.e Pan African Student Summits and AISEC. And soft copies via partner websites and via s disseminations 1b:Establishing the baseline analysis through the survey

Progress and Next Steps Sample Question 1: How often do you access the internet? 70.58% Said an average of 5 days a week Do you own a cell/mobile phone? 93.63% Said they do Do you have access to information on internship/ volunteer opportunities? 5.7% say they do 1c:Establishing the baseline analysis through the survey

Progress and Next Steps Sample Question 2: If you had the opportunity to change your course, would you change it? 42.5% Said they would.See below for why: “ Yes, because realise now how difficult it is to find a job with a Master degree in History” “ “Because here in Cameroon people who study History are regarded as future teachers and I do not want to become one” “A first degree in Accounting is more or less useless without a professional qualification.” “My present course has very limited job opportunities in a developing country such as mine-Ghana “ 1c: Establishing the baseline analysis through the survey

Progress and Next Steps Sample Question 3: Will you consider a website that provides career guidance service? 91.42% say it is very important Will you consider using a career guidance service to assist you in selecting a career and growing in your selected career? 91.08% say it is very important Will information on current affairs change or influence your decision on your career choice? 66.03% say it is very important 1c: Establishing the baseline analysis through the survey

Progress and Next Steps Stake Holders:- Universities in Africa i.e Kenya - Nairobi University and Day Star University and Sierra Leone Forah Bay College (Proposed Pilot sites) Public Sector:- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Commonwealth Secretariat, Ministry of Education Kenya Corporate Sector:– BP Angola, MTN Cameroon, BAT West Africa, Coca Cola Africa and SafariCom Kenya to name a few 1: Form a consultation group/partners

Progress and Next Steps Kenya Cameroon South Africa 3: Pilot site in 3 African countries Development of concept website (Kenya)

How do you come in? Partner with us to assist in: archiving 2 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) NEPAD ICT objectives Capacity Building Corporate Social Responsibility Pipeline development of employable youth for African and Global market place

How do you come in? Who are the stakeholders and how can they engage? Human Resource Professionals in all sectors: Providing detailed profile on Career opportunities in there sector Providing meaningful internship opportunities Government/Donors, Foundations and International community: Embracing and owning the project via partnership and endorsements The Diaspora: as mentors and Counsellors African Universities: Developing and encouraging the use of Career Guidance and Internship in partnership with the private sector

Sustainability: Resume surgery Job advertising portal Consultancy services Banner adverts

Future growth French capability Replicate in 53 African Countries Adopted by African Governments Offline solution – Team counsels running career surgeries in School and college through out the year. Training

Thank You Question & Answers Developing an online Africa Career Guidance service