OUR ISSUES
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT & SKILLS
OUR ISSUES
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT & SKILLS
Overview
Africa’s youth population is growing rapidly, and it is expected that by 2050, the majority of young people in the world will live on the continent. However, even today, there are not enough decent jobs to absorb the up to 20 million young Africans entering the labor market each year. Three-quarters of entrants to the labor market are self-employed or work in microenterprises, and less than 5% will find a formal wage-paying job. Equipping young Africans with the skills required to meet the growing and fast-evolving demands of the labor market is crucial. Secondary education, in particular, will be critical in preparing young Africans to earn a decent living.
Our Youth Employment and Skills (YES) programs, initiatives, and research projects help African countries create an enabling environment for developing youth skills to meet current and future job demands. Our work supports governments in identifying sectors with the capacity for rapid job creation and helps them to improve the ease of doing business to attract more investment. We also engage African youth on economic policy by facilitating dialogues between young people and policymakers in partnership with youth organizations.
Key Contacts
Programs
YES Pan-African Coalition for Transformation (PACT) Chapter
The YES PACT Chapter will help countries across Africa identify common problems and challenges faced in Youth Employment and Skills and identify examples of best practices in one or more countries to be shared.
Featured Reports & Studies
With the right education and training, coupled with well-defined national development strategies and employment policies, Africa’s large and fast-growing youth population could be a great asset for development and provide a comparative advantage in world markets.
The education system in Niger is performing poorly. Several factors underscore the poor performance of the system, including enrollment increases but funding decreases, a lack of specific teacher qualifications, insufficient quantity and quality of teaching materials, and an overloaded and obsolete curriculum.
Featured Insights & Ideas
Upcoming Events
YES - PACT Learning Series: TVET Teachers’ Industry Attachments
YES - PACT Learning Series: TVET Teachers’ Industry Attachments
As part of its knowledge sharing and learning agenda, the YES-PACT chapter convenes a series of webinars at the regional level intended to provide a platform for its members and policymakers to engage in discussions of practical policy solutions to address common challe...
Past Events
Inter-Generational Dialogue – Youth Employment and Skills
Inter-Generational Dialogue – Youth Employment and Skills
Through this dialogue, the aim is to deepen understanding regarding challenges and opportunities, paving the way for effective strategies to unleash the potential of Africa's youth in the 4IR era.
Expert Dialogue: Charting the Pathway Towards Accelerated Digital Transformation in Africa
Expert Dialogue: Charting the Pathway Towards Accelerated Digital Transformation in Africa
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) are convening a series of expert dialogues among policymakers and development partners to identify best practice and concrete ...
Re-imagining African TVET for Job Growth
Re-imagining African TVET for Job Growth
This is part of a dialogue initiative organized jointly by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), the International Organization for Employers (IOE) and the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET).
YES-PACT End of Pilot Phase Showcase
YES-PACT End of Pilot Phase Showcase
YES PACT Learning Series: Learning from the Rwanda TVET Center of Excellence Initiative
YES PACT Learning Series: Learning from the Rwanda TVET Center of Excellence Initiative
This webinar will bring together YES PACT Chapter members and policymakers involved in TVET education in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, as well as TVET providers and teachers/trainers.
Commentary
Digital Cooperation and Digital Governance in Africa
KAS, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), and The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) have collaborated on three dialogues with experts and policymakers, culminating in an event at the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on July 12, 2023.
4IR Digital Economy