Launching a Continental Platform

The inaugural Africa Job Creation Forum was held in Addis Ababa from 7–9 July 2023 under the theme:

“Accelerating Job Creation, Digital and Financial Inclusion in the Implementation of the AfCFTA.”

The Forum was established to accelerate implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area through value addition, industrialisation and job creation, while connecting stakeholders across Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

It provided a platform for governments, businesses, development institutions and other stakeholders to explore how trade, enterprise development, digitalisation and financial inclusion could contribute to employment creation across the continent.

• AfCFTA
• Job Creation
• Industrialisation
• Digital Inclusion
• Financial Inclusion

Advancing Women, Youth and Enterprise

The 2024 Africa Job Creation Forum advanced the African Union Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion Initiative (WYFEI 2030) through entrepreneurship, digital and financial inclusion and greater participation in the AfCFTA market.

The Forum highlighted the need to digitalise and finance MSMEs, strengthen their access to local, regional and international markets, and build practical ecosystems that enable African enterprises to grow and compete.

Key highlights included the launch of the WYFEI Creative Sector 2024 Cohort — Afri’Talent, the inaugural Eastern Africa Bootcamp, and partnership agreements aimed at advancing digital and financial inclusion and sustainable job creation.

• Women & Youth
• MSMEs
• Entrepreneurship
• Digital Finance
• Market Access

Advancing Job Creation and Economic Resilience

The 3rd Africa Job Creation Forum was held from 7–9 July 2025 at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Forum was jointly organised by AeTrade Group, in collaboration with the Host Country, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, and brought together more than 1,500 participants from across Africa.

The Forum was held under the theme:

“Advancing Job Creation and Economic Resilience through Regional Integration, Digital and Financial Inclusion along Agricultural Value Chains in the AfCFTA Market.”

The Forum focused on strengthening agricultural value chains, regional integration, digital transformation and financial inclusion as drivers of inclusive and sustainable employment.

• Launch of new job creation initiatives
• High-level policy dialogue on youth employment
• Showcase of successful digital SME models
• Partnership announcements with regional banks

• Economic Resilience
• Regional Integration
• Agricultural Value Chains
• Digital Transformation
• Financial Inclusion

Accelerating Sustainable Job Creation at Scale

The 4th Africa Job Creation Forum will take place from 9–11 December 2026 at the Adwa Victory Memorial Complex in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Building on the previous editions, AJCF 2026 will convene governments, the private sector, financial institutions, investors, development partners, entrepreneurs and young people to advance sustainable job creation, enterprise growth and inclusive economic opportunity across Africa.

The 2026 theme:

“Pathways to Decent Jobs and Employment Opportunities for Youth through Local and Global Public-Private Partnerships”

will guide discussions on how Africa can connect its growing young workforce to opportunities through entrepreneurship, wage employment, labour mobility, skills, productive sectors, digital and financial inclusion and investment.

Beyond dialogue, the Forum will focus on mobilising investment and partnerships, showcasing scalable country and enterprise models, strengthening implementation, tracking job-creation results, and advancing flagship and legacy initiatives capable of generating employment at scale.

• Sustainable Job Creation
• Investment
• Enterprise Growth
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Implementation