HRDC CEO Outlines National Workforce Vision at Employee Africa Summit 2025

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) proudly participated at the 3rd Annual Employee Africa Summit 2025, held from 26th –27th June at Fairground Holdings, Gaborone, under the theme: “Empowering Workforce Resilience: Navigating Change and Innovation in Africa.”

Representing Botswana’s vision for human capital transformation, HRDC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Professor Alinah K. Segobye, delivered a compelling keynote address titled: “Empowering Workforce Resilience: Fostering Innovative Continuous Workplace Learning for a Knowledge-Based Economy in Botswana.”

Her presentation emphasised the critical role of continuous learning and strategic ecosystem collaboration in cultivating a resilient, future-ready workforce. She expanded on several thematic pillars, including:

• Lifelong Learning & Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Revitalisation: Modernising skills systems and expanding access to TVET, with targeted support for youth, women, and marginalised groups.
• Future-Focused Skills & Innovation Culture: Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), digital transformation, and green economy trends to anticipate and address future skills demands through innovation hubs and entrepreneurial training.
• Workplace-Based Learning Models: Investing in structured experiential learning - including internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, and competency-based programs - funded through the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF).
• Strategic Human Capital Partnerships: Coordinating the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS) by fostering cross-sector collaboration between government, academia, and industry to realise Botswana’s workforce potential.
• Embedding Resilience and Wellbeing: Promoting emotional intelligence, mental health strategies, and inclusive talent development through reflective practice and performance-aligned learning systems.

HRDC's participation at the Employee Africa Summit reinforced Botswana’s leadership in workforce innovation on the continent. Professor Segobye underscored the importance of aligning education, skills training, and labour market dynamics in the face of global disruptions, climate change, and rapid technological shifts.

By engaging stakeholders in critical conversations about talent agility and inclusive economic growth, HRDC affirmed its commitment to developing a dynamic human capital base that will support Botswana’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy.

 “Resilience isn’t just about withstanding disruption -it’s about equipping our people to thrive in change,” Professor Segobye shared.

For HRDC, the summit served as both a platform to showcase Botswana’s strategic efforts and a catalyst for new partnerships in the African human capital development space.