Industry leaders and professional associations across Africa have called for unified continental standards and Pan-African certification systems to improve skills recognition and facilitate cross-border employment. The call emerged during a partnership signing ceremony in Addis Ababa on November 13, as Ethiopia prepares to host the Africa Commerce Convergence Summit (ACCS) 2027, scheduled for September 2027 and expected to attract over 1,000 delegates from more than 33 African countries.
The agreement was signed by Nigel Colin Tattersall, originator of ACCS; Fana A. Abay, President of the Ethiopian Marketing Professionals Association (EMPA); and Yilkal Abate, President of the ICT Association Ethiopia (ICT-ET). A central theme of discussions was developing indigenous professional certification frameworks that allow qualifications obtained in one African nation to be recognized in another. Yilkal Abate emphasized establishing transferable, trusted qualifications across borders, noting that the initiative aims to ensure professionals moving between countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya have their credentials recognized without unnecessary barriers.
John Karani, Secretary General of the Africa Supply Chain Confederation (ASCON), advocated for a Pan-African certification system for supply chain professionals, questioning why Africans rely heavily on external institutions for qualifications when the continent possesses the capacity to set its own internationally respected standards. Matongo Matamwandi, President of the African Marketing Confederation (AMC), urged reducing dependence on external knowledge systems by strengthening cooperation among African institutions. He noted that marketing education and case studies used in Africa are predominantly imported from Europe and North America, arguing that African professionals must generate locally relevant research, strategies, and educational resources reflecting the continent's unique business environment.
ACCS 2027 will unite four interconnected sectors: marketing, information and communication technology (ICT), supply chain and logistics, and the creative economy. Tattersall explained that ACCS was founded to connect African professional associations through education, events, publications, and research, originating from 2011 discussions among marketing bodies from five countries. Hosting the summit offers Ethiopia a platform to showcase its professional capabilities and business climate. Fana A. Abay said Ethiopia's preparations have been driven by efforts to build a stronger marketing community and connect Ethiopian professionals with continental networks, with the journey involving considerable effort over the past three years.
The initiative is being led locally by EMPA and ICT-ET in strategic partnership with the Ethiopian Logistics and Supply Chain Management Professionals Association (ELSA), with broader involvement from AMC, TICON Africa, ASCON, and the Federation of Creative Economies.