Marrakech: The 13th Human Capital Ministerial Conclave, held during the 2025 World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings, centered on the theme of "Skills for Jobs." Leaders from various sectors, including manufacturing, digital, and health, discussed strategies for governments and employers to collaborate in preparing the workforce for future job demands.
According to World Bank, the event, hosted by the Human Capital Project, saw participation from representatives of 40 countries from the 96-member Human Capital Project Network. These representatives shared their experiences in investing in human capital and partnering with private entities to enhance workers' skills. The discussions were enriched by insights from thought leaders across public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Dr. Rubana Huq, Vice-Chancellor of Asian University for Women, highlighted the necessity of both foundational and advanced skills, sharing her success in facilitating higher education for women garment workers in Bangladesh. Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, underscored the importance of scaling up digital skills, particularly in agriculture, with Nigeria's initiative to train three million individuals in technical skills.
Dr. Vanessa Kerry, Co-Founder and CEO of Seed Global Health, stressed the significance of partnerships and civil society in developing skills for the health workforce, noting the potential for high economic returns and job creation. Finance, Planning, and Budget Ministers from the Human Capital Project Network emphasized lifelong learning and education reform to ensure workforce relevance to current challenges.
Guyana's Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, expressed the country's commitment to human capital investment, particularly in health, education, and lifelong learning. Discussions also touched on global shifts affecting skills needs, with Georgian Deputy Finance Minister Ms. Katerina Guntsadze and Ethiopian Finance Minister H.E. Mr. Ahmed Shide sharing their countries' educational reforms and workforce upskilling efforts.
Lesotho's Finance Minister, Ms. Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, highlighted the country's move towards a skills-for-growth framework, while Nigeria's Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, noted increased funding for sectors critical to economic growth. Cote d'Ivoire's Minister of Economy, Ms. Nialé Kaba, discussed aligning education with labor market needs, and Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister, Prof. Biman Prasad, outlined efforts to address brain drain through technical and vocational education programs.
Saudi Arabia's Economy and Planning Minister, Mr. Faisal Alibrahim, concluded by encouraging the measurement of success in terms of productivity, income, and mobility improvements, beyond mere employment numbers.