Decent Work for Youth: Maximizing the Untapped Potential of the Demographic Dividend in Africa

Background 

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Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a major demographic shift, with a rapidly growing youth population facing high unemployment rates. This challenge is intensified by a mismatch between available skills and labour market demands, severe gaps in foundational and digital competencies, and limited access to flexible, accredited learning and earning opportunities. To unlock the region’s potential, there is an urgent need to develop targeted upskilling pathways in key sectors, aligned with future career trajectories and labour market needs.

Scaling these efforts requires integrated systems, safe and inclusive environments for peer learning, and the strategic use of technology and innovative financing. Without bold transformation in how youth engage, learn, and build skills, Africa’s young people risk being left behind in the global economy. Bridging the gap between learning and earning is essential to harness the continent’s demographic dividend and drive inclusive, sustainable growth.

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Key Objectives

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• What are the main barriers preventing youth from accessing quality skill development opportunities, and how can these be addressed?

• What are the key barriers and enabling factors in building an ecosystem that supports youth transitions to decent work?

• Why is it valuable to invest in Learning-to-Earning (L2E) pathways for young people, particularly those from marginalized groups?

• How can innovation—through technology, financing models, and partnerships—help create a dynamic and inclusive L2E ecosystem?

• How can partners use a digitally enabled ecosystem to bring their services closer to youth

 

Expected Outcomes

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• Strengthen awareness of key barriers faced by both youth and the private sector in developing and accessing Learning-to-Earning (L2E) pathways, including gaps in skills alignment, financing, and inclusive access.

• Enhance visibility and understanding of existing platforms and mechanisms that can foster effective public-private collaboration to bridge the gap between learning and earning for youth.

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Background to the Discussion

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Up to 1 million young Africans enter the labour market each month, yet fewer than 1 in 4 secure formal employment. In Zambia, of 6.4 million youth aged 15–35, nearly 3 million were not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) in 2021, and only 38,000 youth had access to any form of skills training. Marginalized groups—including adolescent girls and young women, youth with disabilities, and those in rural areas—face even greater barriers. For example, over 45 per cent of young people with disabilities are unemployed, and vulnerable employment among women stands at 80.1 per cent, compared to 60.6 per cent for men.

To address these challenges, UNICEF, in collaboration with Genesis Analytics and key public and private sector partners, has developed evidence-based, transformative approaches grounded in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models. These initiatives focus on expanding access to flexible, accredited learning pathways, leveraging technology and innovative financing, and creating inclusive environments for peer learning and mentorship. By bridging the gap between learning and earning, these efforts are helping unlock Africa’s demographic dividend and drive inclusive, sustainable growth.

Starting from crosscutting challenges characterizing the youth landscape in the African continent based on resent assessments, the workshop will provide the opportunity to showcase how digital solutions can contribute to create a valuable ecosystem for L2E opportunities while fostering valuable Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for youth empowerment

The panel discussion and Q&A session aim to address challenges, propose solutions, offer constructive criticism, and recommend next steps for all stakeholders.