Building Africa’s Nuclear Future: The Power of Human Capital
As Africa moves to embrace nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demands—driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrialization—the continent faces a critical moment. Of course, nuclear power presents a low-carbon path to energy security, but its success depends on one critical factor: the rapid development of a skilled, safety-driven, and self-sufficient workforce.
Human Resource Development (HRD)—one of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s 19 essential nuclear infrastructure pillars—is the foundation upon which Africa’s nuclear future will be built. Without timely, strategic investment in human capital, countries risk project delays, safety lapses, and continued reliance on foreign expertise. HRD is not just important—it is the decisive factor that will determine whether Africa’s nuclear ambitions succeed or stall.
The Imperative of Nuclear Expansion in Africa
In Africa, Nuclear Business Platform (NBP) projects an operational nuclear capacity of 15,000 MW by 2035, which is a transformative milestone less than a decade away. These commitments signal a paradigm shift toward energy security and sustainability, but they also underscore the urgent need for a robust workforce capable of translating vision into reality.
Nuclear power is more than technology; it’s a complex human endeavor. Every stage—from planning to decommissioning—requires experts in science, engineering, regulation, safety, and communication. The IAEA’s sobering statistic—that 80% of significant nuclear incidents result from human error—underscores the gravity of this challenge. A single error in judgment or lack of training could jeopardize public safety, economic stability, and the credibility of Africa’s nuclear ambitions.
For many African nations new to nuclear energy, developing this workforce quickly is essential. These countries must build their capabilities from the ground up, addressing the dual challenges of limited existing expertise and the need for rapid capacity development. Failure to prioritize HRD threatens to undermine these transformative projects. Strategic and immediate investment in HRD is not optional—it is an absolute necessity to ensure safe, efficient, and self-reliant nuclear programs.
Country-Level Initiatives for Nuclear Human Resource Development in Africa
To address this challenge, African countries are prioritizing HRD in the nuclear sector through education, training, and international collaboration. Nations such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Morocco have made significant strides by launching new academic programs, upgrading research facilities, and forming strategic partnerships to build a capable workforce for their nuclear goals.
Ghana: The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), through its School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS) at the University of Ghana, has been designated as an AFRA regional centre for nuclear education. In 2024 the US Department of Energy (DOE) and GAEC’s Nuclear Power Institute (NPI) opened Africa’s first regional Clean Energy Training Centre in Accra. GAEC is also collaborating with NuScale to establish a NuScale Energy Exploration (E2) Centre featuring a VOYGR-12 SMR simulator, providing hands-on operational training. Further, under the U.S. FIRST Initiative, Ghana is developing a full-scope simulator and welding certification program to enhance technical skills among engineers and regulators.
Nigeria: Nigeria is rapidly scaling its capacity in nuclear education and regulation. The Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) in Abuja operates a 34 kW research reactor used for training, and plans are underway to acquire a multipurpose reactor to expand hands-on learning. Nigeria also collaborates with the IAEA and benefits from EU-funded projects focused on human resource development and knowledge transfer. To consolidate its training ecosystem, Nigeria is establishing a dedicated nuclear university in Abuja and maintains strong training partnerships with countries like Russia and South Korea.
Kenya: In Kenya, the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University now offer specialized undergraduate and postgraduate programs in reactor physics, radiation protection, and nuclear engineering. Kenya has hosted two IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) missions and is actively promoting STEM education in schools. The planned Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) at Konza City is expected to become a flagship institution for nuclear engineering education, attracting students from neighboring countries.
Uganda: Uganda is building a pipeline of nuclear professionals as it prepares to deploy a research reactor in Soroti. In collaboration with the IAEA, the Ugandan government has initiated new degree programs in nuclear science and engineering at Soroti University. Additionally, Korean experts are assisting with site evaluation (Soroti for research reactor, and Buyende for power plants), and Uganda is using Korea’s Hanbit SMR facility as a training model. These initiatives are designed to support the growth of the Uganda National Nuclear Company with locally trained talent.
Rwanda: In early 2024, Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) in Russia signed a memorandum to co-develop nuclear education programs, enabling Rwandan students to access training through TPU’s research reactors and cyclotron facilities. Simultaneously, Dual Fluid Energy from Canada and Germany is constructing a demonstration lab reactor in Rwanda, with a commitment to training local personnel as part of the project. These efforts are complemented by IAEA technical cooperation aimed at forming Rwanda’s first generation of nuclear professionals.
Tanzania: Tanzania is laying the groundwork for future nuclear development by enhancing its academic and regulatory frameworks. The University of Dar es Salaam is launching a nuclear physics degree with IAEA support, while the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) offers courses on radiation protection and nuclear applications. The government also awards “Samia Suluhu Hassan” scholarships for overseas nuclear education.
Morocco: Morocco has the most mature nuclear science base in Africa. The National Centre for Energy, Science and Nuclear Techniques (CNESTEN) operates a research reactor and several specialized laboratories. In 2021, CNESTEN opened a National Training Centre in Rabat to build national and regional capacity. Recognized as an IAEA Collaborative Centre and Africa’s first Centre of Excellence, CNESTEN regularly hosts training courses under the IAEA’s AFRA program and shares best practices through the AFRA-NEST network.
Major International Training Initiatives
Beyond national programs, African nuclear aspirants participate in global and regional HRD schemes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has 456 active Technical Cooperation projects in 45 African countries, many targeting workforce development, regulatory training and degree programs. The IAEA’s AFRA network and AFRA-NEST consortium have helped standardize nuclear curricula (e.g. in Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa) and secure fellowship grants for African students. Meanwhile, bilateral partners have launched programs such as: Russia’s state nuclear corporation (Rosatom) scholarships and training agreements (e.g. with Rwanda, Nigeria and Uganda); South Korea’s KOICA-KAERI training courses; China’s state-tender training for research reactors; Japan’s WECAN; and European Union funds (EURATOM’s INSC) for competence building in Nigeria and Tanzania. The U.S. DOE’s FIRST program has established “Clean Energy Training Centres” in Ghana (2024) and Kenya (planned), and the UK’s Nuclear Skills Academy and France’s INSTN school provide continent-wide courses. In short, a web of international partnerships – each accompanied by scholarships, simulator grants or curriculum aid – is actively building the pipeline of African nuclear professionals.
Socio-Economic Benefits of Nuclear HRD
Investing in nuclear skills yields tangible economic and social returns. Numerous studies show that nuclear energy projects generate high-value jobs and local income. For example, a recent analysis found that South Africa’s planned nuclear expansion could create ≈16,647 direct annual jobs during construction, with thousands more in manufacturing and services. That study projected a GDP boost of roughly R30.2 billion in the Western Cape and R23.1 billion in other provinces, plus R20.7 billion in household incomes (including R2.6 billion for low-income households) directly attributable to nuclear-sector activity. Globally, industry data indicate that each nuclear plant employs ~500–800 people long-term, and “for every 100 nuclear power plant jobs, 250 additional jobs are created” in the broader economy. In the Kenyan context, modeling by the Nuclear Innovation:Clean Energy Future (NICE Future) initiative similarly forecasts that adding nuclear capacity will generate substantial local employment and spur ancillary industries.
Challenges in Africa: Brain Drain and Retention
Africa faces acute challenges in retaining its best and brightest. A well-known problem is the emigration of skilled professionals. The World Economic Forum notes that Africa currently loses ~20,000 scientists and engineers each year to higher-income countries, and one analysis found that about 1 in 9 Africans with tertiary education now lives abroad in OECD countries. Many of those emigrants are in STEM fields: in one estimate, over the last decade some 6,000 African engineers and 83,400 life-science professionals left the continent. This “brain drain” means that even after paying for advanced training, African states can lose the very specialists they need. Without interventions, highly trained nuclear graduates may take overseas research or industry jobs where pay and facilities are better.
To address these issues, African governments and partners should adopt workforce-retention strategies. Possible actions include bonding scholarships (students funded abroad must return to serve for a set number of years), and local industry development (encouraging nuclear tech startups and research labs to absorb talent). Diaspora engagement is also valuable: building networks with African scientists abroad can facilitate visits, lectures or “brain-circulation” programs.
Strategies from International Exemplars
African countries can accelerate nuclear HRD by adapting best practices from leading nations:
South Korea offers a strong example of rapid capacity-building through education and hands-on training. Institutions like KAIST (nuclear department), KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS), and Ulsan Univ (UNIST) produce nuclear professionals, while companies such as KHNP provide simulator-based operator training and apprenticeships for both domestic and international students. Korea’s model emphasizes localized curricula and the transfer of expertise through turnkey projects. African countries could replicate this by establishing nuclear faculties and partnering with Korean institutions for joint programs and internships.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) built a skilled workforce for its Barakah Nuclear Power Plant from the ground up. Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC)’s Diploma and Higher Diploma in Nuclear Technology—delivered with Abu Dhabi Polytechnic and NAVIC, with final training in Korea—ensures graduates transition directly into plant operations. State-of-the-art simulators and youth engagement initiatives, like the Barakah Youth Council, reinforce long-term career pathways. African nations can adopt similar approaches by offering government-funded nuclear degrees, building SMR simulators, and integrating training with national energy institutions.
France anchors its HRD strategy in world-class institutions such as Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires (INSTN), managed by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), offering a broad range of nuclear diplomas and tailored industry courses. Utilities like EDF and Orano provide practical rotations between labs and plants, while France encourages international participation through IAEA collaborations. African countries could benefit from creating INSTN-like national institutes, leveraging French expertise to shape curricula, and sending students abroad under return-service agreements.
Japan, Canada and the UK also offer lesson. For example, Japan’s nuclear training reactors (JAEA-Japan Reactor School) and academic consortiums, Canada’s CANDU universities, and the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory partnerships. A unifying strategy is workforce planning: defining clear career maps and accreditation standards, and tracking HR needs through IAEA guidance. Incorporating these best practices can help African countries develop a sustainable, skilled, and self-reliant nuclear workforce.
Recommendations
African energy ministries and educators should pursue a comprehensive HRD strategy:
Leverage Existing Institutions: Support and expand existing nuclear science schools (e.g. SNAS-Ghana, CNESTEN-Morocco, University of Nairobi’s program) and research reactors as hands-on training hubs.
Expand International Partnerships: Deepen ties with experienced countries like South Korea and Canada through student exchanges, expert visits, and co-developed curricula. Active participation in IAEA training programs and fellowships is essential.
Create Local Training Institutes: Establish dedicated nuclear institutes modeled on UAE’s Barakah program or France’s INSTN, blending academic instruction with practical training. Ghana and Tanzania are already moving in this direction.
Invest in Simulators and Research Reactors: Deploy nuclear simulators and small research reactors at universities to train operators in both routine and emergency scenarios. These tools should be fully integrated into nuclear science curricula.
Link Scholarships to Careers: Design scholarship schemes with guaranteed employment in the nuclear sector. Following the UAE’s model, recipients should transition from study to certification to staffing within national programs.
Prevent Brain Drain: Retain talent by requiring public-funded graduates to serve locally, offering research grants, career advancement, and engaging the diaspora. Regional hubs like Ghana and Kenya can attract and retain skilled professionals more effectively than isolated efforts.
By implementing these strategies – and continuously investing in education, joint research and quality facilities – African nuclear newcomers can build the human capital needed for sustainable nuclear power. As Ghana’s US partner noted, the new training centre “symbolises the United States’ commitment to knowledge sharing” in nuclear energy for African allies. With such international support and national will, these countries can create enduring capacity: developing not just reactors, but an expert workforce that drives economic growth, energy security and societal well-being across the continent.
