Doing it for the Kids - UNIDO steps in to put the next generation to work

Global youth unemployment has hit a record high following the financial crisis and is likely to get worse in 2011. A report of the International Labor Organization (ILO) says 81 million out of 630 million 15-24 year olds where unemployed at the end of 2009, some 7.8 million more than at the end of 2007. The consequences? According to ILO, the world risks a crisis legacy of a "lost generation" of young people who dropped out of the job market.

The situation is equally bad in the developing and developed countries alike, according to data published by the organization. In a trend that started in 2004, young people not only face the problem of not finding a job, but are often underpaid, based on factors like gender, age and socio-economic background, with youngsters complaining the system simply doesn’t give them a chance to prove their value on the labour market. But UNIDO does.

Responding to this growing problem, UNIDO has moved the issue of youth unemployment up in its “Emergencies” list over the past few years, as part of the efforts to reach the Millennium Developmental Goals – among them reducing global unemployment.

UNIDO’s supports developing countries with entrepreneurship development. Many of these countries are devastated – economically and socially - following years, sometimes even decades of armed conflicts. Through the promotion of productive and decent employment for youth the UNIDO programme aims to boost economic growth, social prosperity and regional stability.

The programmes provide young men and women with technical skills and vocational training, facilitating access to funding for youth-led initiatives and businesses, and more generally in capacity building for sustainable livelihoods for youth.

“Youth in developing and emerging countries are the main generators of innovative ideas, but too often their potentials go untapped: it is crucial to enhance their technical skills and capacity to be employed, and assist them in the creation and running of their businesses” says Matteo Landi, UNIDO associate youth employment expert.

Thus the UNIDO programme facilitates the funding through grant schemes and revolving funds of innovative business projects of the young generation, giving youth power the chance it deserves. Organization experts firmly believe that this help not only the youngsters eager to work, but would also boost global economic growth.

UNIDO estimates show youth ranges from illiterate to well-educated and from rural to urban areas. Young women profit equally as young men. To help reduce youth unemployment in the developing world UNIDO uses an integrated holistic approach, comprehensive long-term partnership with local governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs and the civil society.

Giving youth a chance in the Mano River Union:

The Mano River Union (MRU) countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone – have been hampered by decades of conflicts, denying an entire generation access to education and training.

With 70% of the population under 30 years of age and youth unemployment of around 70%, the MRU have the youngest and poorest citizens in the world.

To answer the call of the government of Sierra Leone to tackle youth unemployment, UNIDO, in cooperation with ILO, the Youth Employment Network (YEN) Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), initiated a joint youth employment programme in all four MRU countries. Through giving grants to selected youth projects, the programme helps young people to actively participate in the development process of their country, interact with each other and put their ideas into practice.

Cote d’Ivoire

UNIDO launched a competitive grant scheme in Cote dÍvoire in 2008, to help innovative, sustainable and youth-led solutions to unemployed youth. 

“In this area youth unemployment is a plague; its rate goes as high as 86%; only one youngster out of ten has a job, mostly a temporary one, and three out of ten have occasional occupations in the informal sector, earning enough money to survive the day, maybe the week” says Landi.

“But it is not despair that one sees on their faces; on the contrary, these young men and women appeared to be truly determined to make a change”, explains Lindi, saying this is a reason enough for UNIDO to stretch out a helping hand.

ILOT-Vanou is one of the beneficiaries, who got a grant with UNIDO help to start a business. Their project aims to clean-up 3 km of sandy beach at Port-Bouet and build up a small tourist beach with locally produced bungalows, sun-chairs and restaurants for tourists. The grant of USD 25,000, will give 46 young people a full-time job for one year and help them continue the business on their own.

Sierra Leone

UNIDO launched a new grant scheme in the country in January 2011. It will support innovative, small scale youth employment projects submitted by youth-led organizations. Grants between $2000 to $20000 will be awarded to the most viable proposals, chosen by a review team of technical specialists and a selection committee. The selection will be based on a pre-determined criteria.

This project is supported by the governments of Austria and Germany. The ultimate beneficiaries are the poorest young men and women who are searching for decent and productive work in Sierra Leone and have ideas for their own businesses. Similar projects of UNIDO, in cooperation with the United Nations Peace Building Fund (PBF) have been launched in Guinea, where youth-led communication and Information Centres would help young people develop entrepreneur skills and thus increase their chances to get a good long-term employment.

For more information about the project, please contact:

Doris Hribernigg
UNIDO Project Manager
E-mail