The African Union Commission is the Secretariat of the African Union and is entrusted with executive functions. The mission of the Commission is to become “an efficient and value-adding institution driving the African integration and development process in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens”. The Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (AUC-HRST) who is responsible for the AUC’s Portfolio on youth, education, science and technology is responsible for ATJ.

The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) was established in 2010 as an outcome of the integration of NEPAD into AU structures and processes. The NEPAD Agency is the implementing agency of the African Union that advocates for NEPAD, facilitates and coordinates the development of NEPAD continent-wide programmes and projects, mobilizes resources and engages the global community, regional economic communities and member states in the implementation of priority programmes and projects. The NEPAD Agency replaced the NEPAD Secretariat, which had coordinated the implementation of NEPAD programmes and projects since 2001.

Business Africa is the voice of employers and the private sector in Africa. The confederation has membership drawn from African employers’ organizations spread out from over 40 countries from all regions of the continent. Business Africa advocates for a conducive business environment that facilitates sustainable enterprises, investment and employment for socio-economic development in Africa through a network of national employers and business organisations. It is recognized in the areas of labour, employment and social affairs and within the context of international labour organisations such as the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the African Union (AU).

German Cooperation

In coordination with the EU, the Federal Republic of Germany is supporting Africa Talks Jobs and the continued efforts to build alliances for skills development and employment with African partners. This support is provided within the framework of the cooperation agreement that exists between the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the AUC Secretariat. The BMZ support is implemented by a joint approach among a number of programmes of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, including:

1. Programmes in the GIZ African Union portfolio in the field of education, youth and employment
   • “Support to the Pan African University”
   • “Skills Initiative for Africa”
   • “African-German Youth Initiative”,
2. Further programmes in the GIZ-AU portfolio
   • “Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA)”
   • “CAADP ATVET and ATVET for Women”
   • “Support to the African Governance Architecture”, and
3. A regional and a global programme
   • “Employment for Sustainable Development in Africa E4D/ SOGA” and
   • “YouMatch – Global Initiative on Employment Services for the Youth”.