The aim of the South African National Skills Development Framework is to facilitate, monitor and coordinate Skills Development activities within the Department of Education

It includes a set of education, training and development activities to help employees and future employees improve their performance and future career prospects. It is designed to address the problem of a fragmented, uncoordinated and haphazard approach to skill development interventions.

For example, one of these interventions is the "Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs)", who are responsible for developing strategic skills plans for their respective sectors focusing on ‘’PIVOTAL’’ programmes. These are those ‘’Professional, Vocational, Technical and Academic Learning’’ programmes that meet the critical needs for economic growth and social development of South Africa. As well as focusing on the addressing the South African skills (and poverty gaps), each sector will need to take into account how South Africa as an importer and exporter of migrant labour can address its own human development needs. The SETA plans will be similar to training plans based on occupational requirements – which in some nations might be defined by occupational standards.