Dr Olaf Erz stands out as a distinguished leader in youth workforce development and international development cooperation, renowned for his commitment to impactful change. With more than three decades of global experience across Africa and Europe, Dr Erz has cultivated deep expertise in empowering young people and strengthening institutional capacity. His academic credentials are extensive: he holds a PhD in Social and Behavioural Sciences from the University of Amsterdam, an MBA from the University of Surrey, and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Landshut. To complement his technical and managerial knowledge, he has earned diplomas in educational psychology and change management, and is a certified partnership broker, underscoring his ability to foster cross-sector collaboration and advance sustainable development. The focus of his doctoral research, Youth Empowerment for a Dynamic Career in Sub-Saharan Africa’, exemplifies his enduring dedication to inclusive, practical approaches that build opportunities for young people in the region. 

Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr Erz has successfully led transformative projects and programs for youth and communities in Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, and Zambia. His specializations include the design and implementation of youth workforce development strategies, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schemes including cooperative training models and comprehensive youth empowerment initiatives. Dr Erz has served in crucial leadership capacities on projects/programs funded by USAID, the EU, BMZ/GIZ (Germany), and DGIS (the Netherlands), guiding multicultural teams and building strong partnerships among government agencies, private sector actors, and international organizations. He is widely respected for his innovative capacity-building methodologies and ability to adapt programs to local contexts. Dr Erz is passionate about coaching and mentoring young people, fostering lasting relationships, and making a positive impact on future generations.