Supporting youth employment and investment in skills in developing countries
Funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organization, the project aims to strengthen knowledge, evidence, and collaboration to advance youth employment and skills development in Africa and Asia. It addresses key knowledge gaps and promotes practical, action-oriented resources to boost job opportunities for young people. By fostering a network of experts and leveraging the YouthForesight digital platform, the project enhances local capacities, encourages peer learning, and supports effective policies and initiatives that create decent jobs.
Duration
1 March 2025 - 28 February 2027
Budget
USD 326,627
Development partner(s)
European Commission, DG Employment and Social Affairs
Reference
GLO/25/06/EUR
Location
Global
Contact
Curcio, Chiara Technical Officer - Youth Employment [email protected]
About the project
Youth employment remains a major challenge in developing countries, where persistent skills mismatches, limited access to decent jobs, and fragmented knowledge hinder effective policy responses. Building on the shared commitment of the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote decent work worldwide, this project supports the development and coordination of a Network of Youth Employment Experts across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions. The initiative targets Malawi, Rwanda, Cambodia, and the Philippines, fostering collaboration, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange among practitioners, policymakers, and partners.
Objective
The project aims to strengthen youth employment outcomes by creating and facilitating a vibrant, inter-generational community of experts dedicated to advancing skills development, job creation, and knowledge sharing. Through the network, members collaborate to identify knowledge gaps, share good practices, and co-develop practical and innovative solutions to enhance employment opportunities for young people in target countries.
Strategy
The project’s strategy is built on three interlinked pillars — Link, Learn, and Leverage:
- Link: Establish an active, inter-generational community that strengthens partnerships and scales up impactful youth employment actions at country level.
- Learn: Enhance knowledge sharing on youth employment, focusing on lessons learned and best practices from national initiatives.
- Leverage: Enable network members to co-create innovative solutions and align resources for stronger, evidence-based youth employment interventions.
The network
The Network of Youth Employment Experts is hosted on the YouthForesight platform — a global knowledge facility jointly hosted by the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth (DJY) and Generation Unlimited (GenU). The Network Space serves as a hub where members can connect, share experiences, access curated resources, and co-create solutions to strengthen youth employment ecosystems across Asia and Africa.
How to join the network
- Step 1: Click here or scan the QR code
- Step 2: Click "Join"
- Step 3: Log in or register*
*Registration to the YouthForesight platform is required in order to get access to the private space of the network.
Publications
Technical Report
The Impact of Active Labour Market Programmes on Youth
Position Paper
Priorities of the EU-ILO Network of Youth Employment Experts
News & Partnerships
Regional training in Bangkok: evidence-based ALMP design for youth
Meaningful Youth Engagement webinar and training package
Building Future-Ready Skills: Insights from the Closing the Gap Workshop in Phnom Penh
Labour ministry stages national conference to promote inclusive, sustainable labour market solutions
The EU perspective on this initiative
Youth Employment at the Core of the EU action
- Addressing youth unemployment through the EU Youth Guarantee. This instrument ensures that young people receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving education.
- Supporting youth to get the right skills and upskilling for quality jobs and companies in addressing skill shortages in Europe. An outstanding example is the Pact for Skills, an action of the European Skills Agenda which aligns education with labour market needs.
- Hearing and considering youth opinions through the Youth Policy Dialogue, an initiative which aims to encourage young people to express their views on EU policy and to integrate their views in the EU’s political agenda.
- Fostering the youth participation in democratic life aiming to ensure that all young people can take part in society by empowering them with work and independence through the EU Youth Strategy, the framework for youth policy cooperation.
- Partnering with the ILO to improve youth employment and skills, better living conditions, human rights, fight against poverty, informal work, and inequalities, contributing to build inclusive and peaceful societies also in countries beyond the European Union.
Other relevant resources
EU-ILO Network of Youth Employment Experts
Learn more about the EU-ILO Network of Youth Employment Experts. Engage now with other members to connect, share and innovate.
Publications and documents
Technical Report
The Impact of Active Labour Market Programmes on Youth