Skills and leadership

We want to ensure workers reach their full potential, and to build the skills that companies need.

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There is a widening gap between skills levels in our markets and what companies need to perform and grow. This gap is greatest amongst young people, informal workers, low-income people, women, and those in fragile and conflict-affected markets. Supporting skills and leadership development is crucial if we are to meet our ambitions to support Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth and to achieve impact in the sectors we invest in.

Our strategy focuses on developing people’s skills for the green and digital economies, alongside environmental, social and governance training and leadership development. We are seeing the need to upskill and reskill workforces in new technologies and business models as part of our COVID-19 recovery response. And our focus on supporting a ‘just transition’ to a net zero economy means we’re supporting marginalised groups to develop the skills this change will require so that no one gets left behind.

That’s why our work in this area cuts across much of what we do. It ranges from providing environmental and social training, to supporting the boards and management teams of portfolio businesses, to managing The Africa List, our business network for leaders in six countries across the continent.

15-20m

people will join the African workforce each year between now and 2050

80%

of Indian workers are in the informal sector, often with few skill development opportunities

20m

new jobs expected to be created by 2030 through the energy transition, requiring major investments in reskilling

26%

increase in the use of digital technologies in jobs in South Africa over the past decade

Key contacts

Allegra Day

Skills & Leadership Lead, Value Creation Services

Nieros Oyegun

Head of Network, The Africa List