Establishing partnerships to solve Africa’s youth unemployment challenge

Africa is home to the world’s largest youth population, with over 420 million people between the ages of 15 and 35 (United Nations). This demographic advantage also comes with a significant challenge: the high levels of youth unemployment. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the global youth unemployment rate in 2020 was 13.6%, while that of Africa was 19.7% in the same year.

Several factors contribute to the high levels of youth unemployment, like limited access to education and skills training, poor investment, skills mismatch and many more. To address these factors, numerous organisations across Africa run different programmes which solve the challenges but have little impact on the overall youth unemployment challenge.

In solving Africa’s youth unemployment challenge, we must collaborate with the overall goal in mind.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) states that “partnerships are critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals.” The UNDP explains that “participation from all stakeholders is necessary to achieve transformational change.” This means governments, civil society, the private sector, and other actors must work together to bring positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

The importance of collaboration and partnership is more than just theoretical. Studies have shown that partnerships can lead to more effective outcomes. In a report by the United Nations, “multi-stakeholder partnerships have the potential to leverage the strengths of different actors, share risks and resources, and catalyse change at a scale and speed that individual actors cannot achieve alone.” In other words, partnerships can create synergies that enable partners to achieve more than they could alone.

Here are three reasons why improving the development of Africa’s youth can be solved through strategic partnerships:

Partnerships can play a crucial role in addressing the youth development challenge in Africa. Collaboration among stakeholders can create synergies and leverage resources, expertise, and networks to address the underlying causes of the youth development challenge. For example, in South Africa, The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) partnered with the Presidency (through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention) to launch SA Youth, a national network offering young South Africans free access to learning and earning opportunities. NYDA further collaborates with Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, key government departments, the private sector, and civil society, allowing young people free access to online work-seeker support resources. This partnership has enabled young people to acquire skills in demand in the labour market, reducing unemployment and promoting economic growth.

Partnerships can also help to address the education challenges facing Africa’s youth. As reported by UNESCO, approximately 30 million African children of primary school age are not in school and only 60% of those who enrol complete their primary education. Access to quality education limits the opportunities available to young people, making it difficult for them to reach their full potential. Through partnerships, stakeholders can support initiatives that improve education access and ensure quality. In Kenya, the government, in collaboration with the private sector, has launched the Digital Learning Program, which provides primary schools with digital devices and e-learning content. This initiative has improved access to education and enhanced the quality of learning, providing young people with skills that are vital in today’s digital economy.

Partnerships can also promote innovation and entrepreneurship among Africa’s youth, creating opportunities for economic growth and job creation. Entrepreneurship has the potential to create jobs, reduce poverty, and promote economic development in Africa, as stated by the World Bank. Partnerships promoting entrepreneurship can help young people access funding, mentorship, and networks critical for starting and growing successful businesses. For example, in Nigeria, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) runs a project called the Lagos State Employability Support Project which collaborates with organisations such as UNDP, GIZ and USADF, private sector-led vocational training centres and employers to identify the in-demand skills, offer skills training to the youth and place them in jobs or provide startup kits, preparing them for enterpreneurship.

There’s an African poem that says “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”.

I firmly believe the success of the SDGs relies heavily on partnerships and collaboration. Therefore, addressing the youth unemployment challenge in Africa requires a collaborative effort from various stakeholders, including governments, civil society organisations, the private sector, and development partners. Through partnerships, stakeholders can leverage resources, expertise, and networks to address young people’s education, employment, and entrepreneurship challenges, creating opportunities for them to reach their full potential.