To foster a vibrant ecosystem where young green and social entrepreneurs can thrive and contribute to sustainable development, YBI and Development Solutions call for governments, financial institutions, and development agencies to: create dedicated investment funds, subsidize sustainable production, streamline regulatory frameworks, standardize impact measurement, and integrate green and social entrepreneurship into education.
Hundreds of millions of young people in the Global South face uncertain futures due to poor access to quality education, inadequate skills, and limited employment opportunities. By 2033, the Global South will host 1.2 billion people ages 15 to 24. However, unless current trends are reversed, only 480 million will attend school, and 420 million will have jobs (often precarious ones), leaving 300 million inactive. Youth inactivity negatively impacts lifelong opportunities, earnings, mobility, and mental health. It also erodes productivity and human capital development, hinders economic growth, and may lead to antisocial behavior and social unrest. Programs and policies that support youth entry into the labor market fall into three categories: those enhancing employment opportunities, training programs to address skills gaps, and those facilitating youth integration into the workforce. Evidence shows that proper program design and implementation are crucial for success, emphasizing the need to tailor interventions to local contexts and youth profiles. The private sector role has a critical role to play beyond job creation. The private sector should be involved in policy decisions to ensure that programs address employers' needs. Its efforts should also complement the public sector in providing quality training and employment services. When wage employment opportunities are scarce, private self-employment and small-scale entrepreneurship initiatives should also become significant pathways for youth to access the labor market. Looking ahead, successful youth employment initiatives need to be brought to scale to unleash the potential of the next generation.
The infographic highlights the growing number of young people entering the workforce and the need for labor markets to adapt to accommodate them. It also emphasizes the disproportionate impact of poor labor market conditions on youth compared to adults, and the importance of addressing this issue to ensure a sustainable future for all.
The green economy is projected to generate 8.4 million jobs for young people by 2030, spanning industries such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management and eco-tourism. However, for many young people, particularly those from marginalized communities, the pathway to green jobs is fraught with barriers. This brief outlines seven approaches used by Save the Children’s Skills to Succeed program to tackle barriers to youth employment in the green economy and foster innovation to ensure that the most marginalized youth receive targeted support and access to green careers.
The Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Framework published by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and Youth Business International (YBI) equips policymakers and entrepreneur support organizations with fresh perspectives and actionable steps to harness this opportunity and empower the new generation. The framework features: emerging trends in youth employment and entrepreneurship; barriers to youth entrepreneurship; and practical recommendations for policymakers and ESOs to adopt to tackle challenges facing young entrepreneurs
The Asante Africa Foundation's 2023 Impact Report, "Rural Youth Breaking Barriers," highlights the transformative power of education in East Africa. By providing quality education and fostering entrepreneurship and leadership, AAF's programs empowered over 24,000 youth in 2023, creating lasting change and brighter futures. They acknowledge the need for continued support in education, mentorship, and youth empowerment to build a stronger Africa.
This discussion paper offers a set of reflections on the key issues related to the intersection of climate change, the green and blue economy, and youth employment. It offers a set of discussion questions related to youth’s participation in the green and blue economy and their leadership in a just transition.
The H&M Foundation's Saamuhika Shakti project (2020-2026) tackles social inclusion in India's textile recycling industry. This initiative empowers informal waste pickers, a marginalized group, by integrating them into the recycling value chain. By treating waste as a valuable resource, Saamuhika Shakti aims to create a more sustainable and equitable circular economy in India's textile sector.
This paper includes key recommendations for and considers the role of industry leaders, governments, education and training providers and civil society in closing the skills gap and championing VET for the circular economy.
This publication aims to inspire international development organisations, affected ministries such as ministries of economic affairs and ministries of culture, and the private sector to explore and implement initiatives that support the cultural and creative industries as an effective means of contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 6 (Gender Equality). I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this publication. Be inspired and enjoy the read!
Youth Co:Lab study on Inclusive Youth Entrepreneurship aims to provide evidence-based information on strengthening an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs from underserved communities. The study analyzes opportunities and challenges they face and explores entry points to incorporate an intersectional approach into inclusive youth entrepreneurship support programs and policies. The study covers young entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs from Asia and the Pacific from marginalized groups: women, LGBTI+, persons with disabilities, people on the move, indigenous persons and ethnic minorities, and youth.
The guide is the result of a South-South exchange between technical advisors and representatives of youth organisations from Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mozambique and Kenya. It highlights their first-hand experiences and best practices on topics like leadership transition, recruitment of new members, the inclusion of women as well as strategies for the distribution of information among members.
This Note analyzes how Generative AI (GAI) will impact jobs, using a skills-based approach to categorize occupations as augmented by GAI, disrupted by automation, or minimally affected. While GAI is expected to enhance some jobs, a troubling gender gap emerges: women are more likely to hold jobs susceptible to disruption, while men are more likely to benefit from GAI-powered augmentation. This trend suggests GAI could widen the gender gap in the job market.
The knowledge product serves as an introduction to the strategies and approaches outlined within, offering practical guidance on facilitating access to finance for project beneficiaries. Developed through a transnational thematic working group on access to finance, the guide draws from the diverse experiences of the four country packages to provide policymakers and implementing organizations with valuable insights.
This how-to paper illustrates four innovative entrepreneurship trainings implemented within the 360° AgriJobs Approach that can help reach employment goals. The measures aim at enabling young men and women to gain a set of soft skills that allow them to identify and seize business opportunities, anticipate market changes, overcome barriers, and take initiative. Creativity, flexibility, resilience, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and finance management are learnable skills to become a successful entrepreneur.
This how-to paper focuses on the promotion of digitalisation within rural youth employment programmes. Digitalisation in rural contexts can be complicated and requires tailored responses to be able to support youth and women in gaining better access to knowledge, information and job opportunities. Through successful planning and implementation, digital tools can help provide these opportunities. At the same time, they create more interesting and accessible routes in discovering youths’ employment potential – both locally and globally.
This how-to paper pragmatically defines what green jobs are within the agricultural sector and how the 360° AgriJobs Approach can help promote Green Skills and Jobs. The addition of concrete activities and lessons learned give real-life examples of how this is done in countries around the globe. Take a look and learn about the potential of green jobs in the agri-food sector.
The Report explores the challenges of youth unemployment for people with disabilities in South Africa. The high rate of youth unemployment is highlighted, despite employers reporting unfilled vacancies. The social model of disability is used to frame the analysis, arguing societal barriers are the main obstacle. These barriers include inaccessible workplaces and a lack of accessible education, significantly disadvantaging young people with disabilities. The report acknowledges employer challenges in finding qualified candidates. Legislative efforts to promote disability inclusion are also outlined.
Financial health for young entrepreneurs means that they are aware of and able to access appropriate resources required to start and grow their enterprises, can manage their business finances, and have confidence in their financial future. Youth Business International (YBI) and ten of its member organizations from Africa, Asia and Europe have developed an evidence-informed approach that can systematically improve how young entrepreneurs can be supported to access appropriate financial services and products.
This S4YE Knowledge Brief describes how The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation (the Foundation), an international charity and licensing body of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (the Award); a Non-Formal Education and Learning framework for young people aged 14-24 years old, uses the Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework and has developed a social value methodology (SVM) to measure the impact that the Award has on its stakeholders, such as Award holders, adults who support Award delivery, and wider society. The Brief also shares useful recommendations for other youth organizations interested in measuring and enhancing their social value.
