Scaling Up Youth Employment in Agriculture Initiative

• Rural and urban youth (15 to 35 years old) - at least 50 % of women - who are unemployed, underemployed or provide unpaid labour, youths’ households
• Government’s institutions, local training and vocational education institutes, private sector firms and value chain actors, financial institution, and hubs are supported / reinforced for improved employability / self-employment support to youth

• 20’000 out of school youth (at least 50% young women) improve their employability skills. Youth with improved employability skills are matched with market opportunities and mentored into self - employment and enterprise development.
• Improved ecosystem’s effectiveness (public, private and civil service providers and private sector companies) in providing employability and employment opportunities.
• Improved youth employment policy environment at national and regional level through SADC, resulting in more effective strategies for youth employability and employment creation.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• 20,000 youth receive basic life, business skills and technical training and access (self)-employment;
• 400 youth led-businesses are facilitated by the project and last more than one year;
• USD 800’000 mobilised by savings and USD 400’000 by innovative financial solutions, will be used for business investment;
• 30 private sector firms and value chain actors will provide opportunities to youth; 10 local training institutions and business development service providers are connected to the private sector;
• Capacity building of key stake holders and multi stakeholder platform facilitation in youth employability and employment creation;
• Pro-active support to SADC and national policy reviews and implementation;
• Establishment of a Regional youth employment knowledge sharing network for ecosystem actors.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

High structural unemployment (>80%)

Youth general perceptions- Both formal and informal employment are not attractive to youth; more potential in self-employment seen.

Key barriers to employment & key drivers to entrepreneurship- capital, skills & markets.

Policy- favourable youth policies at both country and SADC level but low enforcement at country level and no effective progress tracking.

Ecosystem weaknesses and potentials identified; training institutions’ curriculum to be adapted to industrial skills needs; private sector firms and financial institutions identified to provide training / support opportunities.

Value chain identified, both lucrative for youth and with traction from market actors.

Phase 1 01.08.2018 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)