Webinar: Sport as a Pathway to Youth Employability and Jobs in Africa

Webinar: Sport as a Pathway to Youth Employability and Jobs in Africa | Watch on YouTube

On 30 April 2026, sportanddev and the Young African Leaders in Sport hosted a joint webinar with the African Union Sports Council, focusing on Sport and Youth Employability in Africa. This important session highlighted that by 2035, more young Africans are expected to enter the workforce each year than in the rest of the world combined. Youth unemployment poses a significant challenge across Africa, showcasing the urgent need to boost the number of youth in Employment, Education, or Training (EET)—a critical goal for the African Union and its partners. In this webinar, sport was positioned as a practical pathway to employability, skills development, and decent work for African youth.

Programme

Moderator: Mr. Leon Ssenyange

Opening remarks

• Dr. Chipande, African Union Sports Council  
• Mr. Kajja, Young African Leaders in Sport  

What does the data tell us?

• sportanddev Executive Director, Dr. Sanders

Panellists

• Ms. Charity Mwathi, Commonwealth Secretariat  
• Mr. Jabu Mutuwa, Ithuba Lethu Sports Hub  
• Ms. Shimaa El Daly, Sports Justice  

Meeting summary

• The meeting focused on a webinar about sports as a pathway to youth employability in Africa, organized by the African Union Sports Council and Young African Leaders in Sports.
• The moderator, Leon Ssenyange, introduced the panellists, including Charity Mwathi from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Jabu Mutuwa from Ituba Leithu Sports Hub, and Shimaa El Daly, an international sports lawyer.
• The webinar aimed to provide actionable insights on career and professional opportunities in the sports industry for Africa's youth.
• The session was set to begin with opening remarks from Timothy Kajja, the president of Young African Leaders in Sport.

Youth Employability Through Sport in Africa

• Timothy opened the webinar on sport as a pathway to youth employability in Africa, highlighting the demographic challenges the continent faces with a large youth population seeking employment.
• Dr. Decius Chipande from the African Union Sports Council discussed the strategic plan 2024-2028, emphasizing support for development, good governance, and sustainability through sport infrastructure and talent development.
• The webinar was organized in collaboration with Young African Leaders in Sport (YALS) and the International Platform on Sport and Development, with plans for a follow-up roundtable in Kigali in September.

Sport and Youth Employability in Africa

• Dr. Chipande la presented on sport and youth employability in Africa, highlighting the need for more locally-driven approaches and greater African influence in global policy processes.
• They discussed the significant challenge of youth unemployment across the continent, noting that while 10 million young Africans enter the labor market annually, only 3 million formal jobs are created.
• Dr. Chipande emphasized that sport can play a crucial role in youth employment, citing evidence from Europe where young people in sport are employed at double the rate of the overall economy, though similar data for Africa is lacking.
• They introduced sportanddev's platform as a resource for free tools and courses in multiple languages, inviting young people and stakeholders to register and contribute to shaping a more equitable sport for development movement.

Sports for Youth Development

• Leon and Charity discussed the importance of sports in promoting youth employability and development, particularly in Africa.
• Charity highlighted the work of the Secretariat in using sports as a tool for development, peace-building, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
• She mentioned the Global Sport and Sustainable Development Goals Baseline Impact Report and the Commonwealth Sports Developer and Peace Working Group, which focuses on sports for development.
• Charity also noted the availability of a massive open online course on sustainable development, which has benefited over 11,000 people from 200 countries.

Sports Economic Growth in Africa

• Charity presented on sports as a tool for economic growth in Africa, highlighting job creation across various sectors including coaching, infrastructure, events, and tourism.
• Jabu discussed the challenge of pathways rather than talent shortage in Southern Africa, emphasizing that while young people are talented and resilient, they lack access to networks and practical experiences in the sports industry.
• Jabu outlined various initiatives through Ithuba Lethu Sports Hub, including volunteer programs, mentoring, and career readiness workshops to address this gap.
• The discussion concluded with Leon inviting Shimaa to share perspectives from North Africa, though her response was not captured in the transcript due to network connection issues.

Sports Career Development in Africa

• The discussion focused on the role of sports in career development and entrepreneurship in Africa.
• Shimaaa highlighted the need for better infrastructure and legal frameworks to support sports as a viable career path in Egypt.
• Charity emphasized the importance of mentorship systems for athletes in East Africa, particularly as they transition out of competitive sports.
• Jabu discussed how sports teach valuable workplace skills and shared an example from SESLA's work in Rwanda, where sports-based education helped a young person start their own business.
• The conversation also touched on the need for upskilling athletes and those around them to make them more employable in the sports industry.

Athletes Balancing Sports and Employment

• The group discussed the challenges and opportunities for athletes balancing sports with employment.
• Shimaaa highlighted how sports develop important skills like confidence and responsibility in young people.
• Charity emphasized that sports should be viewed as primary work, requiring proper support and compensation to allow athletes to train effectively.
• The discussion also touched on gender-specific challenges in sports, with Charity mentioning differences in expectations and opportunities between male and female athletes, though her connection was lost before she could elaborate further on experiences in North Africa or Egypt.

Africa Sports Opportunities for Youth

• The meeting focused on challenges and opportunities for women and youth in sports across Africa.
• Shimaaa highlighted cultural and financial barriers facing women in sports, emphasizing the need for better awareness, support systems, and structured programs.
• Jabu discussed the importance of men as allies in breaking barriers and noted the lack of accessible online courses for transitioning into the sports industry in Africa.
• Dr. Ben Sanders suggested that investments in grassroots and community sports, rather than elite athletes, could more effectively contribute to employment and societal development.
• An attendee (Tubi) proposed implementing a dual career policy similar to those in Europe and Asia to balance education and sports, as well as separating policies for elite and recreational sports.
• The discussion concluded with calls for mentorship, mass participation, and skills development to create more opportunities for young people in sports and beyond.