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From human development to human capital development? Critical reflections on the EU education and skills policies in Africa with a focus on the Global Gateway

Year: 2026

Type: report

Abstract: The Global Gateway is considered a key instrument of EU development cooperation. Introduced in 2021, it was announced as a ‘win-win’ strategy for both, the EU’s competitiveness agenda and developing countries’ strive for sustainable development. The Global Gateway epitomises the current shifts in EU development policy from a focus on poverty reduction to infrastructure investments to boost economic development. These shifts have also affected the EU’s education sector support strategies introducing a focus on employability and aiming at an enabling role of education for economic investments. The Policy Note critically discusses some of these trends at the sub-levels of basic, vocational and higher education, as well as the potential risks attached to them, particularly in Africa.

Source: Econstor (Econstor)

DOI: 10.60637/2026-pn44

Authors: Langthaler, Margarita, Tiefengraber, Esther

Institution: Austrian Foundation for Development Research

Language: English

Topic: International Development and Aid

Subfield: Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Decent work and economic growth, Partnerships for the goals, Reduced inequalities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: green

Funder: Austrian Development Agency

OpenAlex ID: W7125412971

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