Youth

Today, there are 1.2 billion young people aged between 15-24, and by 2030 that figure is expected to grow by 7%. At the same time, global youth unemployment is estimated at 13.1%.

Giving young people a voice

As young women and men increasingly demand more just, equitable, and progressive opportunities and solutions in their societies, the need to address the challenges they face has become more pressing than ever – particularly if they are to contribute to a productive economy.  

Young people today increasingly want a role in decision-making and are vocal about their need for equal opportunities – and they deserve to have their voice heard. 

We know that youth can be a positive force for development when provided with the knowledge and opportunities they need to thrive, whether that’s access to education, skills, and ultimately a market that can support them to start and grow enterprises or absorb them into the labour force. 

Creating new opportunities

Since 2013, SNV has helped create meaningful employment for more than 270,000 young people. 

Our Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (YEE) strategy – implemented successfully in several countries over the last 10 years – applies a market systems development approach.  

We facilitate links between the labour market and skilled youth to stimulate employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. YEE provides out-of-school, underemployed, and unemployed young women and men with the tools, skills, and networks that enable them to identify opportunities in SNV’s core sectors. And it’s something we bring as a core element across all of our work. 

Take the RAYEE project in Ethiopia as just one example – by the end of 2024 we will have created meaningful employment in agriculture and agri-business for 240,000 young people, of which 70% are women.  

Our young people can play a vital role in bringing about the systems transformations that will ensure they inherit a better world – and we want to enable them to thrive.