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 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 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.
In this paper, Youth Business International (YBI) and Habitat in Türkiye shine a light on the potential of youth-led businesses that have outgrown microfinance and start-up support but are still considered too small or high-risk for mainstream investment. These businesses—often innovative and rooted in their communities—are overlooked despite their immense potential to create jobs, generate revenue, and drive sustainable economic growth. They fall into the “missing middle”. The policy paper outlines key strategies to de-risk youth entrepreneurship and enable youth-led businesses stuck in the “missing middle” to scale sustainably, including: designing tailored financial products such as uncollateralised loans and milestone-based funding; advocating for regulatory reforms and youth-friendly procurement; strengthening financial literacy and investment readiness; scaling structured mentoring models and peer learning initiatives; and supporting high-growth businesses in diverse sectors, including green, creative, and traditional industries
The Jeans Redesign (2019-2023) aimed to revolutionize jeans production for a circular fashion economy. Partnering with industry experts, the project created guidelines for brands to design jeans that are durable, recyclable, and made with minimal environmental impact. Launched in 2021, these guidelines have been adopted by over 100 organizations, leading to the creation of more sustainable jeans and a significant step towards a more responsible fashion industry.
Engaging in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) as international development cooperation (DC) organisation involves navigating a dynamic and multifaceted landscape. This guide provides a comprehensive framework to assist organisations in understanding and analysing the CCI and in planning, implementing, and evaluating initiatives that contribute to the sustainable development of the CCI. It aims to assist international DC organisations to collaborate effectively with creative communities worldwide and implement projects successfully. This guide recognises the intrinsic value of culture and creativity in fostering economic growth, cultural expression, and social inclusion. Furthermore, it acknowledges these factors in the context of their contribution to the goals of many international DC organisations, such as: job and income generation, innovation promotion, climate change, gender equality, just transition, and disrupting postcolonial continuities. The guide has been formulated within the framework of the Global Project CCI, executed by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
This S4YE Note analyzes the importance of the fashion industry for socio-economic growth and examines its potential as a source of job opportunities for young people. It discusses jobs along the industry’s value chain, its contribution to global revenues and trade, and its evolution with changes in technology, environmental concerns, and changing consumption patterns. The note also highlights the skills required for jobs in the fashion industry and presents analysis to support the claim that the industry is a key driver of jobs for youth and women. The note concludes with policy recommendations to promote circular economy job creation, skill development of young talent, and investment in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the fashion industry.
Since 2018, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has been promoting the sector cultural and creative industries (CCI) through its implementing organisations Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Goethe-Institut. This future oriented sector offers important levers for the implementation of a feminist development policy, which is a priority of the BMZ. Almost half of employees in the CCI sector are women but they often work under precarious conditions. The sector offers the potential to contribute to gender equality in terms of necessary improvements for women and of working conditions.
The cultural organizations and events considered in this policy brief are those whose mission and activities are aimed at disseminating and broadening access to a diversity of cultural expressions. They include, among others, cultural centres, festivals, book fairs, bookshops and libraries, theatres, cinemas, performance venues, broadcasters, and online cultural platforms. Individually and collectively, these organizations and events contribute significantly to the achievement of Article 7 of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which urges Parties to foster an environment that encourages individuals and social groups to provide “access to diverse cultural expressions from within their territory as well as from other countries of the world.” Whether they belong to the public, private or associative sector, these organizations and cultural events spearhead innovative practices, which makes them strategic allies in achieving the objectives of the 2005 Convention.
Cultural and creative sectors are a significant driver of local development both through direct job creation and income generation but also indirectly by spurring innovation across the economy. Beyond their economic impacts, they also have significant social impacts, from supporting health and wellbeing to promoting social inclusion and local social capital. Flanders (Belgium) has placed cultural and creative sectors as a priority in the region’s economic and social strategy. This paper provides an overview of cultural and creative sectors in Flanders, highlighting trends in employment, business dynamics, entrepreneurship and financing as well as cultural participation. It offers analysis and recommendations to support the region in continuing to build on its local cultural and creative ecosystem.
This case study offers a review of cultural and creative sectors in Lithuania, highlighting issues and trends in employment and business development, financing and cultural participation. It brings a specific focus on three municipalities within the County of Klaipėda located on the Baltic coast – Klaipėda City, Neringa and Palanga – small cities specialised in port activities, logistics, traditional manufacturing and seaside resort tourism. It highlights how culture and creative sectors can be leveraged to foster local development, diversify the economy and strengthen territorial attractiveness. It provides recommendations and international examples on ways to support business development in creative sectors and to strengthen synergies between culture and tourism.
This study represents the culmination of extensive research and the findings from twenty interviews with experts specialized in media freedom, artistic freedom, the protection of human rights defenders and artists. It provides a comparison of the protective frameworks and mechanisms in place to defend the rights of journalists and artists in times of emergency. The ultimate goal of the study is to encourage synergies between artists and journalists, and the communities that work towards their safety. It suggests concrete action to expand protection for artists’ safety in crises, learning lessons from the advanced movement for the protection of journalists; all while highlighting ways in which collaboration could be of benefit to both the advocacy communities focused, respectively, on artistic and on media freedom.
As part of the Cultural and Creative Industries project, the Goethe-Institut and Africa Beyond 4IR (AB4IR), a non-profit organisation that aims to bridge the digital and gender gaps in access to technology in South African townships, co-developed Drone Divas. The four-to-six-week Drone Divas training is a very successful collaboration between the training organisation and the private sector as internships form an integral part of the programme. Women learn how to operate drones with applications in many creative fields such as photography, cinematography, architecture, and also agriculture, tourism, research and science. The curriculum provides hands-on training in drone operation, programming, filming, 3D modelling, and an introduction to entrepreneurship, including the modules Design Thinking and Business Model Canvas. Afterwards, the top ten participants complete a three-month internship with a company specialised in drone operation services.
This short report summarizes a Creative Economy Alliance (CEA) webinar hosted by the Cultural and Creative Industries global project (implemented by GIZ and the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the World Bank’s Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE) Project. The webinar focused on using international cooperation to drive gender equality within the creative economy.
This report highlights the Better Work strategy (2018-2022), a collaborative effort by the ILO and IFC to promote gender equality in the global garment industry. It highlights the importance of decent work conditions, including fair treatment, social protections, and work-life balance, for empowering women and fostering a thriving garment industry.
To better address gender inequalities and promote an inclusive environment, the supra-regional project, Cultural and Creative Industries, commissioned a gender analysis. It highlights gender-based differences in terms of the relative distribution of resources, opportunities, constraints and power in the Creative and Cultural Industries.
