17/08/2026
TEVETA Malawi Takes Leadership Role in Pan-African TEVET Regulators Association
TEVETA Malawi has been elected to the Executive Board of the Association of TEVET Regulators in Africa (ATRA), representing the Southern Africa Region. The election took place during the inaugural ATRA meetings held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 12 to 13 August 2026.
TEVETA Executive Director, Mr. Elwin Chiwembu Sichiola, attended the meetings, which brought together TEVET regulatory bodies from across Africa to lay the foundation for the establishment of the continental association.
ATRA is a pan-African body being established under the leadership of the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD). It will provide a platform through which TEVET regulatory institutions can collaborate, share knowledge and strengthen TEVET systems across the continent.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Sichiola said Africa stands at a defining moment in its pursuit of sustainable development, industrialisation and regional integration.
“The successful implementation of Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa, the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034 and the African Continental Qualifications Framework requires more than ambitious policies. It also requires strong institutions capable of developing, regulating and assuring a skilled, mobile and globally competitive workforce,” he said.
Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training has become central to Africa’s human-capital development agenda and most African Union Member States are strengthening their TEVET systems to respond to rapid technological advancement, industrialisation, digital transformation, climate change and the evolving nature of work.
However, differences in regulatory systems, quality-assurance mechanisms, accreditation processes, recognition of qualifications and institutional capacities continue to constrain labour mobility, workforce competitiveness and the implementation of continental integration frameworks.
In response to these challenges, AUDA-NEPAD, through its Human Capital and Institutional Development Directorate, initiated the process of establishing ATRA as a continental platform for strengthening collaboration among TEVET regulatory institutions.
AUDA-NEPAD has emphasized that the Association is not intended to replace national regulatory bodies. Instead, it will promote cooperation, peer learning, harmonisation, institutional capacity development and regulatory coordination in support of Africa’s broader development agenda.
TEVETA Malawi’s election to the ATRA Executive Board represents significant recognition of the country’s contribution to the development and regulation of TEVET. This includes the implementation of strategic programmes such as Community Technical Colleges (CTCs), Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Informal Apprenticeship Programmes.
As the representative of the Southern Africa Region, TEVETA Malawi will contribute to continental policy discussions and initiatives aimed at strengthening skills development, regulatory cooperation and the quality of vocational training across Africa.
This achievement marks another important milestone in TEVETA Malawi’s efforts to advance skills development beyond national borders as it positions Malawi as an active and influential voice in shaping the future of TEVET in Africa.
The Association is expected to be officially launched in Accra, Ghana, in December 2026.
