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.
Strengthening employment services for young people
The Orientajoven programme aims at facilitating 3,000 employment counsellors for the transition of Spanish young people into decent jobs. It is part of the youth active labour market policy launched by the government in December 2018 and known as “Plan De Choque Por El Empleo Jóven”. The employment counsellors receive training on career guidance, activation measures, gender equality, and strategies to assist vulnerable young people. The Public Employment Services of Spain, known as SEPE, administer the programme and recruits counsellors. The design and implementation of Orientajoven are reviewed by the Employment and Labour 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).