WHY
More than 1.4 billion people currently live in areas affected by protracted conflicts and complex emergencies, which often extend over many years and significantly erode development gains. Under these circumstances, young people may be out of school or college and engage in jobs that are informal, unstable, underpaid, or even high-risk and harmful. In extreme cases, they leave their homes in search of safety and a better life and risk becoming victims of trafficking or exploitation.
HOW
Decent Jobs for Youth is focused on expanding the evidence base about what works to support youth in fragile situations. The findings will be used to develop guidance on promoting youth employment in fragile situations, which will in turn allow our partners to launch tailored interventions at country and regional level. Particular emphasis will be placed on empowering youth through innovative use of technology, from promoting skills development and employment creation through cash transfers (especially mobile money), to jobs in service provision and recovery, and enterprise and cooperative development. These efforts are aligned with the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205).
WHO
The ILO and UNDP lead this thematic priority. Decent Jobs for Youth brings together a growing number of partners who are committed to empowering youth in fragile situations and expanding their access to decent work.
Strengthen orientation services with Young people
The “PLAN DE CHOQUE POR EL EMPLEO JÓVEN 2019-2021” approved by the Spanish Council of Ministers (December 7th 2018), includes the “ORIENTAJOVEN“ programme that consists on hiring 3.000 employment counselors in Spain. Counselors will be trained in specific areas supporting youth: career guidance, activation, equal opportunities between women and men, youth employment, vulnerability and marginality. The allocation proposal and the financial resources come from SEPE. Action is planned to be finished on 31 st December 2021. PES should implement the procedures for recruiting. The measure will be analyzed in the Spanish Sectorial Conference (employment and labour sectorial coordination meeting).
Dutch challenge fund for youth employment
In 2019, the Netherlands’ 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 aim of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) is to create economic prospects - via decent work and income - for youngsters in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel, and Horn of Africa. The fund will focus on supporting scalable solutions of the private sector, civil society and knowledge institutes. The USD 171 million fund will run for at least seven years (2019-2025).