For young Africans, this recognition is not an abstract policy question — for instance, it determines whether a degree earned in one country will be accepted by a university, employer, or professional body in another. When qualifications are recognized across borders, students can pursue further studies abroad, workers can put their skills to use wherever opportunities arise, and economies can benefit from the freer movement of talent.
When qualifications are transparent and trusted, they become the currency that enables labour mobility, support investments in human capital and strengthens regional competitiveness.
Dr Kande, PhD, Director General/CEO, Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA)/current co-chair of the ACQF network
That is why since 2019 the African Union together with its partners has been working on a policy framework to recognize qualifications within the continent: the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF), built on the principles of inclusiveness, transparency and readiness for innovation while contributing to the broader goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goal 4.
This work builds on the Addis Convention — UNESCO’s Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States — which provides the continent’s legal framework for regional cooperation on qualifications recognition. The ACQF translates this legal foundation into an operational policy tool for countries and institutions to apply.
This year, the 7th Continental Forum of the African Continental Qualifications Framework Network marks an important transition from policy development to implementation and feasible outcomes in promoting skills and labour mobility.
The Forum brings together policymakers, qualifications authorities, higher education institutions, development partners and technical experts from across Africa and beyond to advance dialogue on qualifications recognition and strengthen mutual trust between national qualifications systems.
One of the Forum’s key milestones has been the presentation and endorsement of the ACQF as well as the public launch of the Qualifications and Credentials Platform (QCP), a trusted continental source of information on qualifications across Africa. The platform is expected to facilitate recognition processes, support learners and employers, and strengthen collaboration among qualifications authorities across the continent by improving access to reliable information.
This represents a significant step towards operationalizing the continental framework and demonstrates the commitment of pioneering countries to strengthening transparency, quality assurance and regional cooperation in education.
The UNESCO Qualifications Passport (UQP) initiative was also presented at the conference. In Kenya, the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) leads its implementation, with a strong focus on institutionalization through policy reform. This priority was reaffirmed during the fourth in-person UQP Technical Advisory Group meeting held the previous week in Nairobi, which brought together implementation countries from the region—Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, South Africa and South Sudan—with further expansion planned. Participants also highlighted the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF) as a key tool for facilitating the recognition of foreign qualifications and supporting UQP implementation.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/building-future-ready-qualifications-zystems-africa-advancing-skills-recognition-and-labour-mobility?hub=701
