PEP pledges its commitment to the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, contributing high-quality, local evidence to inform policymaking in seven African countries.

(Geneva) Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) has announced its commitment to the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, contributing high-quality, locally-generated evidence to inform youth employment policymaking in seven African countries.

PEP—an international organization that links researchers globally to enhance local capacity for policy analysis in developing countries—is supporting local researchers to carry out research and policy engagement activities related to youth employment through nine projects in seven African countries. The projects are funded by PEP’s current core donors, Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), UK Aid and the Hewlett Foundation.

Through these projects, PEP’s goal is to support and increase evidence-based policymaking in the selected African countries. To achieve this objective, PEP will develop the capacity of local experts to produce a reliable evidence base on youth employment while engaging with policy actors to ensure uptake in relevant decision and advisory processes.

PEP employs a “Grant Plus” model and a learning-by-doing approach to provide local researchers with a comprehensive package of intensive training, continual mentoring, and international peer-review, alongside funding.

In committing to the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and providing local, policy-engaged research and expertise, PEP is directly contributing to a coordinated global effort to improve youth employment throughout the world.

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 now become a global, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, social partners, the private sector, youth and civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders in an effort to scale up action and impact on youth employment. They work together to share knowledge, leverage resources and take action at country and regional level, with current commitments aimed at supporting more than 18 million young people in accessing decent work and productive employment worldwide.

The commitment by PEP will boost action on transitions to the formal economy, youth in the rural economy, and youth entrepreneurship and self-employment.

For more information about the commitment, please contact:

• Prof Jane Mariara, Executive Director, PEP I mariara@pep-net.org


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