The Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged its commitment to the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. The commitment on a Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) aims to improve the economic prospects for up to 200,000 young women and men in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel, and Horn of Africa through decent work and income.

In 2019, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs will set up a new Challenge Fund in support of employment opportunities for youth, with special attention for young women, in Africa and the Middle East. The EUR 150 million fund will run for seven years (2019-2025). It will focus on supporting scalable solutions of the private sector, civil society and knowledge institutes for youth in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. Solutions should in particular focus on an integrated approach that addresses the shortcomings on the demand side (jobs) and supply side (skills) and bridging the mismatch between these two in the labour market.

The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Decent Jobs for Youth was launched in 2016 as a UN system-wide effort, focusing on the youth employment challenge that is central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has emerged as a global, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, social partners, the private sector, youth and civil society organizations, and others. They work together to share knowledge, leverage resources and take action at country and regional level to support young people in accessing decent work and productive employment worldwide. The commitment by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributes to action on thematic priorities, including on digital skills for youth, quality apprenticeships, and youth in fragile situations.

For more information, please contact:

• Ms. Esther Droppers I Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands I esther.droppers@minbuza.nl


• Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth I decentjobsforyouth@ilo.org