Doha: Experts have emphasised the need for tangible solutions and adopting innovative skills for youth to solve economic and employment problems in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
During a panel discussion on the sidelines of the United Nations LDC5 Conference in Doha, titled ‘LDC5 Youth Track Session: Fostering youth economic inclusiveness and entrepreneurial skills – It takes an ecosystem,’ panellists stressed that policies must centre on ensuring young people have access to relevant opportunities and support networks.
The panel included Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director International Trade Centre (ITC); Gunter Beger, Managing Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Khalid Al Sulaiti, President of the Young Entrepreneurs Club, Ministry of Sport and Youth Qatar; Nizar Yaiche, Leader, Global Digital Network, Government & Public Services, PwC Partner. Others included Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader, Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa (SEMA), Hewlett Packard; Carl Manlan, VP, Inclusive Impact & Sustainability, Central & Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa (SEMA), Visa; Dhuha Abdulmunem, Manager, Iraq Response Innovation Lab (IRIL) – Ye! Community Chapter Iraq; and Mara Zhanet Michelo, CEO and founder Jacaranda Hub. David Cordobés, Head of the Youth and Trade programme, ITC, moderated the panel.
According to Coke-Hamilton, the entry of one billion young people worldwide into the labour market in the coming decade means there is an urgent need to adopt solutions that open new job opportunities in all sectors.
The global economy must create 600 million jobs or entrepreneurial opportunities over the next 10 years to keep pace with these projected demographic developments. It is estimated that 1.8 billion young women and men are neither employed, educated or trained.
According to Hamilton, ITC aims to support local stakeholders to provide top services to young entrepreneurs with a spotlight on accessing finance. She added that ITC will support the African continental free trade area through a regional agreement to increase Africa’s income by $450bn by 2035.
Al Sulaiti said empowering youth would contribute to economic independence through micro, small and medium enterprises, trade, and related skills development in many sustainable development goals. He said it would also facilitate poverty reduction and boost family income.
Al Sulaiti says a young population ensures competitive micro, small and medium enterprises. He lamented the barriers young people face in reaching self-employment, entrepreneurship, and employment.
Al Sulaiti highlighted some of these as structural barriers resulting from small and weak economies and large informal sectors. On the other hand, some hindrances are due to inadequate relevant opportunities and support networks in skills development, jobs, and opportunities for entrepreneurship, markets, finance and others.
It is worth mentioning that the UN Youth Strategy 2030 calls for the meaningful participation of youth in SDGs. Besides, it seeks to strengthen the UN’s capacity to engage young people significantly and benefit from their views, insights and ideas.
