Deloitte invests in preparing Africa’s professionals for global markets
Deloitte Africa today announced the launch of Africa Talent, a ground-breaking joint venture as a pilot initiative with Deloitte Netherlands that seeks to connect Africa’s talent to global work opportunities while being physically based on the African continent.
As founding firms of Deloitte Africa Talent, Deloitte Africa and Deloitte Netherlands have committed an initial investment of approximately R25 million to this pilot initiative, with the intention of expanding it to other geographies in Europe during 2023.
The programme aims to recruit graduates with limited experience and those without employment. Where possible, it will also aim to attract school leavers who show potential but may not have opportunities to pursue tertiary education. Africa talent will also target experienced hires who are looking for international exposure without having to leave their home countries on the continent.
Africa Talent seeks to tap into the continent’s youthful and growing population, using hybrid and remote working technology to service the talent needs in areas characterised by an ageing working population - like Western Europe.
Graduates will be trained and developed in data analytics, consulting, cybersecurity and other specialist digital technology skills. They will also work in areas including financial and regulatory risk, sustainability as well as internal audit.
Commenting on the joint venture, Deloitte Africa CEO Ruwayda Redfearn says,
Africa has the youngest population in the world and an immense opportunity to tap into this resource by investing and empowering the youth to reach their full potential. Africa Talent will expose the continent’s graduates to skills and opportunities they may otherwise not have had.
Redfearn adds that Africa Talent will not only address the skills shortage on the continent but will also address high unemployment among graduates, especially in places like South Africa. “In essence, Africa Talent aims to create hope for the next generation of our continent and the communities we operate within,” concludes Redfearn.
The pilot phase of Africa Talent will aim to recruit graduates and experienced hires in South Africa and throughout Sub Saharan Africa. Beyond this, its growth will be in line with the growth in need for talent Deloitte in Europe.
For Deloitte Netherlands, Africa Talent provides us with access to a high-quality skills pool that fits the needs of our clients. This initiative demonstrates the power of the global Deloitte network to drive innovative working models that better meet the demands of our dynamic world,
says Hans Honig, the CEO of Deloitte Netherlands.
The launch of Africa Talent was addressed by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Science and Innovation Buti Manamela, who acknowledged Deloitte for proactively creating opportunities to help address the pressing challenge of youth unemployment.
Africa Talent will be run in conjunction with partner organisations who work with young people and unemployed graduates.
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About Deloitte in Africa
Deloitte Africa is a member of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), a UK private company limited by guarantee. As one of the most iconic brands in Africa, Deloitte has a proud history of attracting top talent and delivering value to clients. Over the course of more than 175 years, Deloitte has helped forge ecosystems that deliver breakthrough solutions that help our clients succeed in an era of complexity and disruption.
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