In South Africa, the percentage of young people actively looking for work but unable to find it climbed from 36,8% in 2014 to 45,5% in 2024. What is it going to take for young people to be given a chance to improve their lives and the communities they live in? Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is a patron of Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship where employers are subsidised to upskill existing employees with future fit skills and create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth by bridging the skills gap.

About Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship

Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship is pinned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The intention of the Scholarship is to create action to ensure quality education to achieve the following targets under Goal 4:
Equal access to affordable technical, vocational and higher education.
By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success.
By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success.
By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.
Universal literacy and numeracy.
By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.
Education for sustainable development and global citizenship.
By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

Why This Matters

Africa is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing youth populations, yet millions of young people and employees lack access to skills development. Businesses need future-ready employees, and individuals need education to secure careers.

The Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship removes financial barriers, supporting:

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education)

African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want

By funding skills development, this initiative empowers individuals, strengthens businesses, and builds Africa’s global competitiveness.

Unlocking Africa’s Future Through Education

Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship is not just a means to empower the people of Africa to take up space. It’s so much more. It’s an opportunity for Africa’s own to design the future of their dreams. For too long, Africa has been left out of meaningful opportunities that could see its people achieving their dreams, empowering their communities and making impact in the world.

Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship is designed for macro employers to be able to assist their employees to keep pace with the global economy. This Scholarship is exclusively for macro employers with a proven track record of educating and upskilling people with the intention of creating employment opportunities, for new and existing employees, either by providing them with job offers or by ensuring they are upskilled to be employable. 

This Scholarship is therefore for employees who want to diversify their skillset so that they remain relevant as the world of work evolves. It is also for the empowerment of young unemployed people who show promise and want opportunities that will enable them to find work.

Applications Open: 31 October 2025 – 30 November 2025

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“Education is a fundamental human right, central to the dignity and empowerment of individuals, to driving sustainable development, and to building peace.”

United Nations Secretary-General
Mr. António Guterres

Who can apply

Macro employers with:

  • A proven track record of upskilling and creating employment,
  • A focus on future-fit skills,
  • Demonstrable history of regulatory compliance, leadership, innovation and customer experience,
  • Commitment to ensuring their learners’ success by supporting them through the course and allowing them sufficient time to complete course work.

How the scholarship works

Qualifying macro employers will get a massive 70% (or more) reduction on course costs for local courses and 60% (or more) for international courses. 

These costs will be absorbed by this scholarship with the employer only having to pay the remainder of the course cost upfront.

The Global Goals 2030: Africa Scholarship process

The funding window will be open from 31 October 2025 until 30 November 2025
Applications will be processed online only via the online application page
The adjudication process will be managed entirely by an independent Adjudication Committee.
Accredited South African and international qualifications are offered asynchronously with online tutor support
Feedback will be completed to all successful applicants on a rolling basis (Within 10 business days of your application)

All course costs must be paid upfront following confirmation of successful applicants

A compulsory onboarding session will take place for all successful Employers
Courses commence in March 2026

Cohort 3 - Apply Now


Applications Close: 31 October 2026

Courses Begin: February – March 2027

Employer ApplicationLearner Application