While Africa’s economic growth has been impressive, many young Africans struggle in low productivity jobs that are insecure and yield low earnings. Many have under-developed human capital, due to insufficient nutrition during their early childhood, poor health, and inadequate education. At the same time, the economic environment for productive work for these youth is constrained. Youth thus constitutes a potential force of discontent. However, young Africans are vibrant, talented, and entrepreneurial. The projected rapid expansion of the youth population can be a comparative strength of the African continent in the aging global economy.

The African Development Bank, the Word Bank, Kobe University, and JICA will co-organize the Technical Discussion in order to follow up on the High Level Discussions to be held on June 2 *1. This event will aim to exchange views on the current situation, challenges and way forward on youth employment in Africa and discuss further on the reports issued by each organization.

*1. The African Development Bank, the Word Bank, Kobe University, and JICA will co-organize the High Level Panel Discussion at TICAD V in Yokohama, Japan, inviting three African country presidents, heads of the World Bank, AfDB, JICA and MIT J-PAL. (NOTE: TICAD V Official Event JICA seminar series) 

Program