South Sudan is set to join 11 other African countries at the Future Leaders Platform Eastern Africa 2026 in Nairobi, a major regional hospitality and tourism workforce-development initiative. The event, scheduled for October 26-27 at Strathmore University, will bring together 30 participating institutions from 12 countries. The initiative aims to discuss the future of employment and entrepreneurship in the sector, focusing on young people, educators, government representatives, and industry leaders.
The participating countries include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Uganda. For South Sudan, participation provides an opportunity for institutions and young people to engage with regional counterparts and explore how skills development, education, and entrepreneurship can contribute to opportunities in the country's emerging tourism sector.
The Future Leaders Challenge, part of the initiative, involves students from participating institutions undertaking a 10-week preparation program focused on a shared workforce-development question. The central question asks how hospitality and tourism can create inclusive pathways for young people, especially women and persons with disabilities, to develop relevant skills, access decent employment, and explore entrepreneurship. Students will present their ideas during the live Challenge in Nairobi, engaging with industry and education leaders.
The program is designed to develop practical skills in research, collaboration, communication, leadership, and creative problem-solving while giving students access to industry knowledge, professional feedback, and networks. The winning team will be announced during a Celebration Dinner at Strathmore University on the evening of October 26. The event is being held under the patronage of Hon. Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya.
The regional initiative comes at a time when the tourism sector is changing rapidly, driven by technological developments, changing consumer preferences, and growing expectations around sustainability. For South Sudan, the discussions are particularly relevant as the country seeks to develop its tourism potential and create more opportunities for young people. Participation in the regional platform could also give South Sudanese education institutions an opportunity to learn from counterparts across East Africa.
Alongside the student challenge, the School Directors Alliance Summit will bring together education leaders from participating countries to discuss changing workforce requirements, education-to-employment pathways, graduate placements, qualifications, research, and opportunities for regional cooperation. The program will also feature student presentations, workshops, industry engagement, and a Job Market Fair, as well as engagement between the Eastern Africa Strategic Board and participating students.
Hubert Ummels, Founder of the Future Leaders Platform and GameChangers, noted that the participation of 12 countries and 30 institutions makes this the largest Eastern Africa edition to date. The initiative aims to create stronger connections between education, employment, entrepreneurship, and industry, reflecting a shared commitment to developing talent, creating opportunity, and strengthening the hospitality and tourism workforce.
Key points
- South Sudan joins 11 other African countries in a regional hospitality and tourism workforce-development initiative in Nairobi.
- The initiative focuses on young people, educators, government representatives, and industry leaders to discuss employment and entrepreneurship in the sector.
- The event aims to create stronger connections between education, employment, entrepreneurship, and industry in the hospitality and tourism sector.
