Youth unemployment: A ticking

Let me begin by thanking the Southern Africa Youth Forum for the invitation extended to me to address this closing session of the 3rd Annual Youth Forum on a very topical issue- Green and Blue Economy. Yesterday, 12 August was International Youth Day so I congratulate and salute the great SADC youths from the 16 SADC countries and their folks from the rest of Africa.

This year’s event is however taking place at a very challenging time when the world is battling with the novel corona virus especially the Delta Variant which is proving to be more deadly. On behalf of the African Union Commission, may I use this opportunity to commiserate with all the families that have lost their loved ones to this virus. I enjoin all of you to continue to stay safe by observing all the COVID- 19 protocols and take your vaccines when you have the opportunity. Youth from the SADC Region, like the rest of Africa constitute more than 60 percent of total population. They are important players in the development of the region and their demographic dividend must be harnessed. Unfortunately, they have suffered disproportionately from the impact of the corona virus which has been found to be systematic and deep. It has been particularly hard on young women.

From loss of income and job insecurity to stalled education and a lack of clean water, young people and their communities are being forced to explore new and innovative ways of coping.

Even before the COVID- 19 pandemic, many of them were already suffering from youth unemployment which has become a ticking time bomb in Africa.

In recent years, the transition from education to work has become more prolonged and unpredictable. In fact, due to different and successive crises, many young people find themselves neither in employment nor in education and training ( NEET). While between 10 million and 12 million young people enter the workforce each year, only 3.1 million jobs are created. Citizens across 34 African countries regard unemployment as the top problem facing their nations. In the absence of jobs, Africa’s youth present a threat to social cohesion and political stability as demonstrated by the deadly migration to Europe through the Mediterranean in search of opportunities. Africa has the youngest population in the world, with almost 200 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 – a number expected to double by highlighting the importance of creating employment opportunities for Africa’s youth. There is a lot of unexploited potential and we need to take advantage of the jobs created by the green and blue sectors.

Under its first Aspiration: “A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development”, Agenda 2063 recognises the huge potential of the Green and Blue Economy as a catalyst of Africa’s socio- economic transformation.

The African Union actively promotes the transformation towards an inclusive green economy that generates growth, creates jobs and helps reduce poverty through sustainable management of natural capital. A green economy offers a pathway to generate economic growth that is inclusive and environmentally sustainable. The green economy – defined by the UNEP as low- carbon, resource- efficient and socially- inclusive – replacing the current fossil fuel- based economy is projected to create 15 to 60 million new jobs. As the transformation towards a green economy will change the patterns of jobs in many sectors, skilling of the youth that will become or has already joined the existing workforce will be needed to foster the creation of decent and green jobs. It is equally important to support local private sector development by providing eco- entrepreneurship skills which will teach people how to start their own green business and thus increase opportunities to improve their standard of living. With 38 coastal and Island states and a coastline of over 47,000 square kilometres, Africa has immense potential for economic growth and fostering prosperity from its blue economy. Currently, about 12 million people are engaged in fishing alone generating food and nutrition security for over 200 million people and an estimated 24 billion revenue representing 1.2 percent of Africa’s GDP.

The huge opportunities around Africa’s Blue Economy can change the narrative for the continent as an engine for socio- economic development and industrialisation. It can further create jobs and improve livelihoods for the teeming population in the continent