Why
Despite rapid urbanization in many countries, around 46 per cent of the world’s population, many of them young people, live in rural areas. Young women and men can be catalysts for economic growth and development in rural economies, but only if they have access to decent work. Some of the barriers they typically face include low incomes, hazardous and precarious working conditions, and limited or no access to social protection. Ensuring that rural youth have access to an abundance and variety of quality jobs is not just important for their personal wellbeing, but also key to reducing poverty and achieving global food security in the coming decades.
HOW
Investing in decent jobs for rural youth can catalyze economic growth and development in rural economies as a whole. At Decent Jobs for Youth, our approach centres on developing and supporting efficient agribusiness, value chains and entrepreneurship models. Another key focus area is ensuring that young people have access to productive resources, such as land, technology and financial services. These efforts are complemented by strengthening policies and programmes so that the rural economy benefits from a skilled youth labour force and a positive business climate.
Who
The FAO and the ILO are committed to lead this thematic priority. Decent Jobs for Youth brings together a growing number of partners who are committed to boost labour market outcomes and unleash the potential of youth in the rural economy.
Green Works in Madagascar
Green Works in Madagascar aims to enhance community resilience against natural disasters, support employment recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and improve capacity for climate change adaptation through employment-intensive green works in Amboasary and Bekily regions in Southern Madagascar. The project creates skills development and employment opportunities for unemployed youth, women, and persons with disabilities through construction/rehabilitation of the rural infrastructure in vulnerable agrarian communities. Youth affected by drought and the COVID-19 crisis actively participate in the development process and can access immediate employment and income generating opportunities.
Social practice for youth employability in China
Within three years, this commitment intends to contribute to SDG8 by assisting at least 500 young people in career development through implementing education programs for social practice, developing knowledge products, and creating job opportunities. It also strives to bridge the gap between colleges, businesses, and the public sectors by creating a consensus on promoting youth's employability. The long-term objective is to construct a textbook on social practice that is tailored to the Chinese context for vocational training and education, as well as to provide a platform to provide jobs for youth based on local political, economic, and cultural aspects.