Harnessing the Power of East Africa’s Youth: Skills and Employment for the Next Generation
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:45 PM EAT
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Please join us for a half day event, featuring a roundtable of business, education and government leaders; followed by a lunch with global youth ambassadors and regional partners, and breakout sessions on tangible projects for collaboration and action.
Agenda
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9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Business Roundtable Discussions will focus on the current state of the youth skills and employment gap in eastern and southern Africa. Leaders from regional and global businesses, international organizations, and government will share challenges and best practices related to business engagement. Activation sessions will feature projects where business can be a valuable partner. |
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12:15 PM – 1:45 PM |
Lunch Members of the business community will join global youth ambassadors, Innovation Award winners, international organizations, and global foundations for lunch, featuring keynote speakers and innovation award announcements. |
Annex 1: Setting the Agenda
The Challenge
1. Underemployment Among Educated Young People
In Kenya, underemployment is a critical issue, with about 40% of employed youth working in positions that do not utilize their skills or qualifications. The situation has been exacerbated by the 2024 protests, which led to disruptions in access to university education, making it even harder for young people to obtain the qualifications needed for better job opportunities. In Uganda, around 60% of university graduates are employed in jobs that do not require their degrees, highlighting a similar trend. These challenges create a cycle of frustration and economic instability, as many graduates find themselves in informal or low-paying jobs that do not match their educational background.
2. Mismatch Between Education System and Job Needs
A significant gap exists between the skills imparted by the education system and the demands of the job market across the region. In South Africa, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 was around 63% in 2022, partly due to a lack of alignment between educational outcomes and market needs. Many graduates are unprepared for available roles, particularly in sectors that are critical for economic growth. The need for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs is urgent, as these can provide practical skills that align more closely with market needs. Additionally, enhancing support for entrepreneurship is vital, with initiatives that can help young people create their own job opportunities rather than relying solely on traditional employment.
3. Rapid Technological Changes
The rapid advancement of technology poses another challenge, creating a digital skills gap that affects many young people, particularly girls and women. For example, in Tanzania, only about 30% of young women are proficient in digital skills, compared to 50% of their male counterparts. While digital literacy is increasingly essential, barriers such as limited access to technology and training programs restrict opportunities for women to acquire these crucial skills. This gender disparity not only hinders individual potential but also limits broader economic growth by excluding half of the population from fully participating in the digital economy.
Annex 2: The Business Action Plan
GBC-Education offers proven ways for business to support education to create meaningful impact. Based on our experience around the world, we recommend five pathways for business to address the above three challenges faced by children and youth in sub-Saharan Africa. These recommended actions will be the basis of discussion during the roundtable to identify specific next steps for the business community in East Africa.
1. Provide Financial Resources:
Corporate financial support through CSR, or social impact giving can support education programs and help ensure graduates are equipped with skills for the future. Safaricom Foundation’s Ndoto Zetu program offers a great example of business support for classroom infrastructure to facilitate learning.
2. Offer In-Kind and Technical Support:
Collaboration between technology firms and NGOs to create community-based digital skills initiatives aimed at underserved youth, especially targeting young women to enhance their participation in the digital economy. Africa Coding Week led by GBC-Education member, SAP, is an example of a business led initiative to digital learning as part of learning curriculum.
3. Advocate for Education Policy Reform:
Advocate and influence for the development or co-development of relevant training and vocational programs that align educational outcomes with market demands, ensuring graduates are workforce-ready. Mastercard Foundation has been a regional leader in this space, supporting initiatives which advance youth-centered policies.
4. Demonstrate Thought Leadership:
Collaboration between business leaders and stakeholders with local educational institutions and government agencies to advance education reform and create programs which facilitate youth placements and transition into the workforce.
5. Implement Internal Corporate Practices:
Businesses can adopt policies which broaden diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and offer employee benefits like childcare, training programs, and scholarships.
Business can also commit to integrating skill development into company operations by allocating a dedicated budget for employee training and collaborating on curricula that reflect industry needs.
About The Global Business Coalition for Education
The Global Business Coalition is a movement of businesses dedicated to ending the global education crisis. We leverage the collective power of business, government, international organizations, NGOs, youth, and other stakeholders to work towards the Sustainable Development Goal of free, equitable, and inclusive quality education for all. Every company has something to contribute to ending the global education crisis, from technical expertise and in-kind resources to public advocacy and internal policy decisions, the private sector can serve as a true partner to donor governments and partner countries alike.
Interested in partnering with GBC-Education for this event? Please contact [email protected] to learn more about sponsorship opportunities which may be available to your organization.