ILO, other partners to tackle youth unemployment in West Africa

WITH youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa reaching over 11 million and a further 69 per cent of young people working poor, key public and private sector stakeholders have outlined a plan to tackle the challenges faced by youth in the region through fostering pro-employment growth.

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, partners of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth brought together the over 200 key stakeholders at the Youth Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment (YES) Forum in Dakar, Senegal, to accelerate support for young entrepreneurs.

The proposal, discussed at a Forum which from 13-14 November 2018 focused on youth entrepreneurship and self-employment and outlines three major areas for joint action.

The area include improved policy and regulatory environments; Quality access to markets, networks, knowledge and skills; and Access to finance.

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The United Nations (UN) Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals Charles Immanuel Akhimien, said the key to sustained prosperity is investing in employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people.

More than 200 representatives from the public and private sector will explore these issues at the Yes Forum co-organized by partners of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth

The Forum will provide a platform to accelerate support for young entrepreneurs in West Africa.

Policymakers, young entrepreneurs, social partners, civil society, private sector actors, financial and business-support service providers, as well as international and regional institutions will exchange experiences, learn from existing initiatives and explore joint actions to boost youth employment.

“Young entrepreneurs are the innovators and job creators of tomorrow. Equipping them with the right skills and knowledge is essential for an inclusive and sustainable Africa,” the Deputy Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), Dorothy Tembo, said on behalf of the partners of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.