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STEM is key to drive innovation, economic growth and sustainable development in Africa. The increasingly more educated population is no doubt the strongest asset for the continent. 

By 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42 percent of the world’s youth and account for 75 percent of those under age 35 in Africa, highlighting the need  to improve STEM education to harness their potential (Population Reference Bureau: ). This demographic boom presents a significant opportunity for economic growth, innovation, and job creation, but it also highlights the pronounced skills gap in STEM fields that poses a serious challenge to the continent. To meet the anticipated demand for skilled professionals in engineering, healthcare, IT, and other vital sectors, Africa needs an additional 23 million STEM graduates by 2030 to fill key roles ().

Building a robust, contextually relevant STEM education system is essential to ensure accessible and culturally aligned learning that prepares students for the demands of the modern workforce. Key strategies include enhancing teacher training programmes, equipping classrooms with essential educational resources, and bridging the digital divide. These measures are key for cultivating a skilled, adaptable workforce capable of advancing sustainable development and driving technological progress throughout the continent.

Gender equality and inclusion in STEM are vital for fostering a dynamic and innovative ecosystem across Africa. In Africa, 30% of science professionals are women (). Despite progress, women and girls continue to face significant barriers, including cultural biases, limited access to female role models, and insufficient supportive policies. These challenges contribute to stark disparities, exemplified by the fact that women constitute less than 15% of engineering and technology researchers in some West and Central African countries. This gender gap not only stifles individual potential but also constrains the diversity of ideas, perspectives, and solutions essential for meaningful innovation and progress. 

Beyond gender, consideration must be given to how socio-economic status, disability, and location impede access to STEM education. Systemic obstacles such as inadequate infrastructure, limited digital access, and financial constraints can marginalize entire groups, thereby limiting the pool of talent and ideas available to advance STEM in Africa. 

By investing in targeted mentorship programmes, bolstering teacher training, implementing scholarships for underprivileged students, and creating accessible learning spaces, Africa can build an inclusive environment where all—girls, boys, women, men, and individuals with diverse backgrounds—can fully participate and contribute to the continent’s growth. 

Innovation, entrepreneurship, and engineering are crucial pillars for shaping Africa's STEM future and unlocking its full potential. By fostering a culture rooted in STEM-driven innovation, the continent can empower its rapidly expanding youth population to spearhead transformative digital and economic progress.

A  highlights a critical gap: only 9% of youth aged 15-24 across 15 African countries have basic computer skills, with just 10% of the male workforce and 7% of the female workforce possessing these competencies. Enhancing digital literacy and technical skills is essential for Africa to remain competitive in the global economy and drive sustainable growth.

Science diplomacy and strategic partnerships are vital for accelerating STEM development in Africa. They contribute to bridging gaps and creating opportunities for collaboration and growth. In 2018, sub-Saharan Africa had only 124 researchers per million inhabitants, far below the global average of over 1,000. Strengthening science diplomacy can help address this disparity by fostering cross-border collaborations, attracting international investments, and supporting South-South partnerships, which are essential for sharing resources and best practices in Africa.

Collaborations with international organizations and the African diaspora can help retain local talent, mitigate brain drain, and promote innovation. Public-private partnerships can fund educational programmes, research, and technological growth, aligning resources from governments, businesses, and global entities. Strengthening science diplomacy and partnerships will enable Africa to address regional challenges, build capacity, and become a key player in STEM.

UNESCO supports national capacities to deliver gender-responsive STEM education. With financial support from partners UNESCO is building capacity-building of teachers in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Read more on how Christelle is promoting STEM education for girls in Côte d’Ivoire.

UNESCO works to empower girls and women in acquiring basic competences and digital skills to help close the gender digital divide. For example, through financial support from Intel, Prada and other partners, UNESCO is enhancing girls’ digital skills for learning.

Role models and mentors have been found to be particularly effective in tackling gender bias. They offer girls an authentic understanding of STEM studies and careers and show them that they too can become who they dream of being. 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ expanded related initiatives at country level through innovative partnerships with Airbus, HNA, Intel, L’Oréal, Prada, WomEng and other partners.

UNESCO also produced a cutting-edge global report entitled  back in 2017, mapping the status of girls and women in STEM education and identifying the factors hindering and promoting their participation, achievement and continuation in STEM fields. This report was the first to document the drivers of gender disparity in STEM studies globally. Through this comprehensive research exercise, 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ built a strong knowledge base on the gender gap in STEM education and provided evidence-based policy recommendations to education ministries and stakeholders.

UNESCO and the African Union Commission (AUC), together with key continental organizations, convened the Continental Conference on Transforming Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Africa, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 26 to 28 November 2024. Discussions focused on fostering partnerships among governments, educational institutions, and the private sector, attracting investments, and shaping inclusive policies that prioritize Africa’s development goals. The Conference resulted in the Addis Ababa Communiqué serving as a road map on the way forward for STEM in Africa.