In conversation with NYDA CEO, Waseem Carrim

The young leader fights for the youth to access any opportunities that are available to them

aseem Carrim is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Development Agency ( NYDA), a government structure located in the Presidency. The NYDA is responsible for designing policies and programmes to respond to youth challenges in South Africa, and lobbies and advocates for the mainstreaming of youth development.

Carrim believes that the current generation sees integration and globalisation not as threats but as opportunities for education, exploration, employment and exchange. This generation sees differences, pluralism and diversity not as a curse, but as a great gift.

When he was just 26 Carrim was recruited to become the Chief Financial Officer of the NYDA, making him one of the youngest CFOS in the public sector. Under his leadership, the NYDA achieved three consecutive clean audits from the Auditor- General. He was named as one of 35 chartered accountants by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2016.

In 2017, he was appointed as the CEO of the NYDA and has driven a culture change at the Agency. Together with the Presidency he designed the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention.

Since then, the NYDA has continued to move from good to great. During the 2019/ 2020 Financial Year, the NYDA under this young

CEO’S leadership achieved its sixth consecutive clean audit report, reinforcing the NYDA’S commitment to good governance. The Agency also achieved 23 out of 24 planned targets for the financial year. This translates to a 96% performance achievement.

“Among our key highlights of the performance achievement we are indeed proud to have provided over 1 100 youth-owned enterprises in the township and rural economy with grant funding to start up their businesses through the NYDA Grant Program. These youth-owned enterprises have gone on to create and sustain more than 5 000 jobs,” said Carrim.

This statement comes against the backdrop of the serious economic and social challenges faced by the country, fiercely compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Young people disproportionately bear the pain of these economic and social challenges, and youth unemployment remains one of the foremost challenges that democratic South Africa faces,” Carrim added.

Despite the many challenges faced by the youth, he believes that many young people have the energy and willingness to want to change their lives, and he continues to fight for the youth of this country to access any opportunities that are available to them.

The NYDA has enlarged its footprint by establishing 15 new service delivery channels in mainly rural areas.

Carrim would like to see both the private and public sector rally behind the economic recovery plan announced by government to ensure that young people are placed front and centre of the plan.

He believes that together as a nation we can achieve much change; he is confident that the future is brighter than the past, and that our best days still lie ahead of us.

He concluded by expressing his appreciation to the third NYDA Board of Directors, Audit Committee, Executive Authority, Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Persons with Disabilities and all NYDA employees for their efforts, oversight and support in achieving another clean audit outcome.

National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Chief Executive Officer Waseem Carrim and his Executive Management team