From experience to opportunity: Unlocking skills through RPL

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is increasingly central to building more inclusive and responsive labour markets. Across Africa and beyond, many workers acquire valuable skills through informal and non-formal learning, yet these competencies often remain unrecognized. Recognizing this potential is both an inclusion imperative and a strategic opportunity to improve productivity, mobility, and access to decent work.

This report presents the outcomes of the Regional Training and Experience-Sharing Workshop on RPL, held in Nairobi, Kenya, under the framework of the PROSPECTS partnership and the ILO’s Global Skills Programme. Both initiatives support countries in strengthening skills systems to improve employment outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations, including refugees, host communities, and workers in the informal economy. RPL is a key instrument in this regard, providing pathways to recognition, certification, and progression.

The workshop also contributes to advancing the ILO’s Skills and Lifelong Learning Strategy, which promotes flexible and inclusive approaches to skills development. It also aligns with the African Union Commission’s Continental TVET Strategy (2025–2034), which identifies RPL as a critical tool for strengthening skills systems and enhancing employability across the continent.