This report examines the challenge facing youth seeking employment in Sub-Saharan Africa's mobile industry: the skills gap. It then explains how the mobile industry will continue to be a significant job creator for youth and unpack the role the industry will play in creating jobs and supporting youth through their employment journeys.
Considerations of justice and social equity are as important for the circular economy transition as they are in the contexts of low-carbon transitions and digitalization of the economy. This paper sets out the just transition approach, and its relevance in climate change and energy transition debates.
Considerations of justice and social equity are as important for the circular economy transition as they are in the contexts of low-carbon transitions and digitalization of the economy. This paper sets out the just transition approach, and its relevance in climate change and energy transition debates
The Rapid Response and Recovery Program was launched by YBI offering COVID-19 focused services in 65 countries to support entrepreneurs across the globe to deal with the unique challenges presented by the pandemic and accompanying lockdowns and social distancing measures. The report highlights what has been implemented to date and pulls together learning and recommendations for best practice in response and recovery in 2021.
This factbook is designed to aide practitioners and highlights interesting design elements from the 44 youth employment programs that make up S4YE's external community of practice, the Impact Portfolio. Projects from leading organizations such as Harambee, Samasource, Generation, Save the Children, Aga Khan Development Network, Knack, and many more are part of this community. These projects represent a spectrum of themes which include Digital Jobs and Skills, Private Sector Involvement, Business Incubation and Acceleration, Impact Sourcing, Digital Platforms, Agriculture, Youth with Disabilities, Woman and Girls, as well as Refugees.
This report, after clearly defining what is “freedom of expression” and the crucial social and political roles of artists, proposes an overview of existing international texts protecting and supporting freedom of (artistic) expression, which many countries have ratified and committed to respect. Then, the report delves into the monitoring of the commitment made by national governments when ratifying an international text defending freedom of expression for artists. The report highlights that many countries do not respect their commitments, giving concrete and recent examples. The report also lists the different challenges to artistic freedom in Europe, regrouping them by categories: mis-use of anti-terrorism legislation, discrimination and persecution of minorities, religion, political interest or insult to state and its symbols. For instance, of all censorhip actions they observed, 39% of them concerned music. Music is the artform the most targeted by censorship, and musicians have their freedom of expression the most threatened. The report puts forward how, in music, certain genres are more threatened of censorship than others: rap music is disproportionally subject to punitive action. The report then lists a series of recommendations to ensure freedom of expression for artists, targeted at all governments, the European Parliament, the European Commission and Council, the European Agency for Fundamental Rights, International bodies and Civil Society organisations.
This report explores trends, challenges and responses that affect the cultural value chain and its main actors; it also acknowledges the need to develop well-calibrated strategies that place people at the centre of our thinking and consider the whole cultural ecosystem. It identifies a recurring set of themes that could inform how public agencies – in different contexts worldwide, with varied opportunities, challenges and barriers – might approach supporting culture in the digital age. The extended version of the report for National Members of the Federation also includes further insights into the experiences of public agencies, as well a series of recommendations to consider when designing national digital culture plans, based on insights from successful case studies and international best practice.
This brief outlines the elements of the improved apprenticeship model developed by Global Communities in the construction sector in Ghana and examines its effectiveness as an avenue to provide skills training to disadvantaged youth, facilitate their entry into employment, and provide some lessons learned.
This report assesses the damaging impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on youth employment in Asia and the Pacific and recommends critical policy responses.
The knowledge brief describes Global Communities' approach to implementing sustainable workforce development interventions at scale that targeted the informal construction sector. It outlines the key elements of the approach, assesses whether there are early signs of sustainability, and presents some recommendations.
Digital technologies can facilitate new opportunities and create challenges for the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sectors. This report provides a global, high-level snapshot of the digitalization of TVET and skills systems in a set of countries and international organizations.
The emergence of the platform or gig economy is a major trend. These changes will affect the organisation of employment relationships, job profiles and the requisite skills. This paper analyses six studies that have addressed these issues, while focusing on aspects with a bearing on TVET.
In October 2018, the South African government held a high-profile Jobs Summit. In addition to acknowledging the challenges of the high South African unemployment rates overall, President Ramaphosa mentioned the importance of job creation for youth (15 – 34 years old) and women specifically. Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey (2018) showed that unemployment rates amongst young people have reached 39.3%. The figure is even higher for young black African women who are attempting to enter the labour market (45.9%).
As countries develop, agriculture’s role as domestic employer declines. But the broader agri-food system also expands, and the scope for agriculture-related job creation shifts beyond the farm. This paper elaborates on these trends and reviews several policy options, including inclusive value chain development, better immigration policies, social insurance schemes, and ramp-up in agricultural education and extension.
This brief examines how the World Bank’s ‘Gaza Emergency Cash for Work and Self-Employment Support’ project supports NGOs that are connecting unemployed youth with online work opportunities. The project will help fund skills training and digital job support to 750 youth (including 375 young women). The brief highlights challenges facing young women in the West Bank and Gaza – who experience high unemployment rates – and the strategies used to encourage their program participation and empower them to engage in e-work.
This brief examines how the World Bank’s ‘E-Commerce for Women-Led SMEs’ project addresses the constraints faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) run or managed by women operating in Algeria; Djibouti, the Arab Republic of Egypt; Jordan; Lebanon; Morocco; and Tunisia. It highlights how the World Bank seeks to support women-led SMEs (WSMEs) in the Middle East North Africa region (MENA) in accessing global markets through e-commerce platforms, and the strategies used to help WSMEs access financial resources, develop capacity, and increase sales.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) joins together cities from across the world around the common objective of harnessing the potential of culture and creativity for a sustainable future. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people everywhere, and the culture sector has in many ways come to a standstill – cultural events, cinema, theatre and music performances have been cancelled, international tourism has largely ceased, restaurants and markets have closed, amongst others. This has not only impacted the sectors concerned, but also the public, which tends to turn to cultural products and services for education, entertainment, leisure, personal development, or social engagement. While this undoubtably has a serious impact on the economic viability of the cultural sector, the sector's fundamental creativity and ability to inspire social connection remains intact. The information submitted by over 90 Creative Cities from 44 UNESCO Member States shows how cities have come together to nurture new ideas and projects by connecting people to culture and creativity during the pandemic.
Supported by Gates Foundation, the report examines the market of tech-enabled career products that have emerged to help provide better career navigation and guidance. It also looks the potential of scaling guidance using online platforms, apps, gamified assessments, and multimedia.
This Note unveils the underappreciated role of women in small-scale fisheries. Despite rising international recognition, women's catches remain overlooked. The research estimates millions of women participate, catching nearly 11% of the total small-scale haul, valued at billions of dollars. These catches not only feed families but also fuel local economies, highlighting the critical yet invisible role women play in global fisheries.
This Short Note talks about how the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA Ghana), and Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO Global) trained about 100 leaders of waste pickers and collectors groups in Accra and Tema on best waste management practices and procedures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection.
