Report

This paper focuses on key sectors across 21 emerging markets that can be prioritized in post-COVID green recovery efforts. These sectors are grouped around greening existing and future energy infrastructure, building climate-smart cities, and helping speed the transition of key industries to green production practices. Concerted actions by public and private players across these areas can deliver economic recovery in the short and medium term and can deliver long-term sustainable and low-carbon growth.

Collaboration between IFC and Google, this report talks about the potential of Africa’s Internet economy, promising tech entrepreneurs driving innovation, and the growing tech talent across the continent. Analysis in the report finds that Africa’s Internet economy can reach $180 billion by 2025, accounting for 5.2% of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP). By 2050, the projected potential contribution could reach $712 billion, 8.5% of the continent’s GDP.

Through the lens of three focus areas—skills, quality of work and inclusivity—this report provides an overview of how current labour market issues apply to the circular economy transition, the opportunities that circularity presents for the labour market and the challenges that need to be overcome to achieve a future labour market that enables people and the planet to thrive.

The thematic plan of Decent Jobs for Youth talks about creating job opportunities in the green economy with a balanced set of support services that will make the sector attractive to young people and be productive while adapting to climate change.

This case study provides evidence from Kenya to show that online freelancing has become an interesting sector, both in terms of its growth trajectory, and in terms of worker upward mobility in the global knowledge economy. As life everywhere moves further into the digital realm, and global internet connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world grows, more and more young Africans who stream onto the labour market may find work in the world of global online freelancing.

This note discusses policy options for managing the employment impacts of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. The note pays attention to the labor market and institutional context of most low and middle-income countries, where informality is large and where existing institutions often lack mechanisms to effectively reach businesses and workers in the informal economy. 

Every year, 25 million young people in Africa enter the labor market, more than half of them (14 million) in rural areas. By the year 2030, 320 million new jobs will need to be created, which makes Rural Youth Employment one of the most pressing and challenging topics, but also presents an enormous opportunity for economic development in capitalizing on this “youth dividend”. This report aims at highlighting good practices and lessons from GIZ programs on rural youth employment. 

The report explores how entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs) and other stakeholders can help youth move (refugees and other migrants and displaced youth) fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams and ambitions —creating decent work, driving inclusive economic growth, strengthening communities, and transforming prospects and livelihoods.

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. 

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.