The ILO and ITU highlight opportunities for boosting youth employment in the digital economy in Ethiopia’s Afar and Somali regions
On 1 November 2021, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) invited key youth employment stakeholders to discuss, validate the results and identify potential priority areas in the study on youth employment opportunities in Ethiopia’s digital economy, in Afar and Somali regions.
10 November 2021
Many young Africans face barriers to accessing decent work, which the COVID-19 pandemic has only made worse. At the same time, the digital transformation of Africa has the potential to create new jobs in the digital economy and to build back better.
The ILO and ITU ‒ in support of the African Union (AU) and under the umbrella of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth ‒ have initiated a joint programme to empower African youth, ensuring they benefit from new opportunities in the digital economy and steer it forward with their energy and creativity.
The goal of the ILO/ITU/AU Joint Programme on Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Africa’s Digital Economy is to enable more young Africans to access decent work in the digital economy. This will be achieved through country-specific interventions that create decent jobs, strengthen digital skills and improve employment services. Furthermore, the programme is generating new evidence for data-driven action and the establishment of partnerships and networks for impact.
The digital economy holds promise to provide a significant amount of employment opportunities for young Ethiopians, also those on the move. To turn this promise into reality requires a focus on enabling policies, necessary infrastructure and ensuring that skills gaps, especially those pertaining to digital skill, are addressed. The Afar and Somali regions host a significant number of refugees and displaced persons who struggle to integrate and find livelihood opportunities. Recently, the regions have become better connected to the internet and there are increasing opportunities for ICT training and education, including in the energy sector.
The ILO and ITU ‒ in support of the African Union (AU) and under the umbrella of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth ‒ have initiated a joint programme to empower African youth, ensuring they benefit from new opportunities in the digital economy and steer it forward with their energy and creativity.
The goal of the ILO/ITU/AU Joint Programme on Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Africa’s Digital Economy is to enable more young Africans to access decent work in the digital economy. This will be achieved through country-specific interventions that create decent jobs, strengthen digital skills and improve employment services. Furthermore, the programme is generating new evidence for data-driven action and the establishment of partnerships and networks for impact.
The digital economy holds promise to provide a significant amount of employment opportunities for young Ethiopians, also those on the move. To turn this promise into reality requires a focus on enabling policies, necessary infrastructure and ensuring that skills gaps, especially those pertaining to digital skill, are addressed. The Afar and Somali regions host a significant number of refugees and displaced persons who struggle to integrate and find livelihood opportunities. Recently, the regions have become better connected to the internet and there are increasing opportunities for ICT training and education, including in the energy sector.