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| Africa's rising population and youth unemployment challenge | Africa's rising population and youth unemployment challenge |
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| If young people are a gift to both their communities and the world, as Wangari Maathai suggested on receiving the Nobel peace prize in 2004, then Africa is a continent rich in gifts. Nearly 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are aged between 10 and 24, and that number is expected to climb to about 561 million by the middle of this century. Africa has the highest concentration of young people anywhere on the planet. | |
| How many would see themselves as part of some vast global bounty is a moot point, however. Of the 1.2 billion 15- to 24-year-olds in the world – 200 million of whom are in Africa – about 75 million are looking for work. In the poorest regions, many of those who are employed work in low paid, insecure jobs with little hope of advancement. Faced by economic uncertainty and lack of opportunity – cast as possible agents of social unrest and seen as a potentially lost generation – if young people are gifts, many must feel like unwanted ones. | How many would see themselves as part of some vast global bounty is a moot point, however. Of the 1.2 billion 15- to 24-year-olds in the world – 200 million of whom are in Africa – about 75 million are looking for work. In the poorest regions, many of those who are employed work in low paid, insecure jobs with little hope of advancement. Faced by economic uncertainty and lack of opportunity – cast as possible agents of social unrest and seen as a potentially lost generation – if young people are gifts, many must feel like unwanted ones. |
| The effects of this twofold trend of rapid population growth and rising youth unemployment are especially visible in the late Maathai's own country, Kenya. Over the past half century, the number of people in Kenya is estimated to have risen from just over 6 million to about 44 million. Much of that growth may be attributed to the period between 1950 and 1985, when every Kenyan woman had an average of about eight children in her lifetime. | The effects of this twofold trend of rapid population growth and rising youth unemployment are especially visible in the late Maathai's own country, Kenya. Over the past half century, the number of people in Kenya is estimated to have risen from just over 6 million to about 44 million. Much of that growth may be attributed to the period between 1950 and 1985, when every Kenyan woman had an average of about eight children in her lifetime. |
| Kenya's vertiginous population rise has slowed since its mid-80s peak, but the country's total fertility rate remains relatively high, standing at 3.98 children for every woman. The UN's latest assessment of world population prospects suggests Kenya's population will quadruple by the end of this century, rising to just over 160 million. | Kenya's vertiginous population rise has slowed since its mid-80s peak, but the country's total fertility rate remains relatively high, standing at 3.98 children for every woman. The UN's latest assessment of world population prospects suggests Kenya's population will quadruple by the end of this century, rising to just over 160 million. |
| Unless things change, more will inevitably mean less for the east African republic's youth. Youth unemployment estimates vary wildly – between 1.8 million and 10 million people aged between 15 and 34 are without work. A fourfold population increase is therefore a sobering prospect, despite views that say coupled with higher life expectancy, a large young population could be for the economy. | Unless things change, more will inevitably mean less for the east African republic's youth. Youth unemployment estimates vary wildly – between 1.8 million and 10 million people aged between 15 and 34 are without work. A fourfold population increase is therefore a sobering prospect, despite views that say coupled with higher life expectancy, a large young population could be for the economy. |
| Kenya's new president, Uhuru Kenyatta, has praised the national youth enterprise development fund, conceived under his predecessor Mwai Kibaki to boost the prospects of young people. But with youth unemployment running at anywhere between 65% and 80%, the need to look for more innovative solutions is clear. | Kenya's new president, Uhuru Kenyatta, has praised the national youth enterprise development fund, conceived under his predecessor Mwai Kibaki to boost the prospects of young people. But with youth unemployment running at anywhere between 65% and 80%, the need to look for more innovative solutions is clear. |
| "It's a huge problem in Kenya," says Tania Laden, co-founder of LivelyHoods, a social enterprise project designed to create work for youths in urban slums. "In Nairobi, there are thousands of young people – and probably even more flocking in from rural areas – looking for work. | "It's a huge problem in Kenya," says Tania Laden, co-founder of LivelyHoods, a social enterprise project designed to create work for youths in urban slums. "In Nairobi, there are thousands of young people – and probably even more flocking in from rural areas – looking for work. |
| "This has an economic impact. In the US and elsewhere in the west, it's young people who are coming up with super-innovative ideas that are driving the economy and setting the pace for the rest of the country. But most of the youth here don't really have that opportunity. Young people are a wasted resource in Kenya." | "This has an economic impact. In the US and elsewhere in the west, it's young people who are coming up with super-innovative ideas that are driving the economy and setting the pace for the rest of the country. But most of the youth here don't really have that opportunity. Young people are a wasted resource in Kenya." |
| LivelyHoods aims to address this opportunity deficit by offering sales training to young people in Kawangware, a densely populated urban slum about 9-miles (15km) from Nairobi. "After they've successfully completed our training, we give our sales agents access to a $75 (£50) credit limit of products," says Maria Springer, Laden's fellow co-founder. "Every day, they choose what products they want to sell. The following day, they come in to either exchange or replenish their consignment." Their wares include fuel-efficient cookstoves, solar lamps, and reusable sanitary products for women. Cornerstones of the project's iSmart brand, the products were chosen with the needs of the local community in mind. | LivelyHoods aims to address this opportunity deficit by offering sales training to young people in Kawangware, a densely populated urban slum about 9-miles (15km) from Nairobi. "After they've successfully completed our training, we give our sales agents access to a $75 (£50) credit limit of products," says Maria Springer, Laden's fellow co-founder. "Every day, they choose what products they want to sell. The following day, they come in to either exchange or replenish their consignment." Their wares include fuel-efficient cookstoves, solar lamps, and reusable sanitary products for women. Cornerstones of the project's iSmart brand, the products were chosen with the needs of the local community in mind. |
| Laden points out that the skills acquired by participants, who earn up to 20% commission on the goods they sell, serve to maximise their marketability while also equipping them for a range of potential careers. "Retail is one of the fastest growing sectors in Kenya, so the chances are they will get a job in sales, marketing or promotions," she says. "But a lot of what they learn is transferable. Whatever they do after working with us, they need to be able to sell themselves. Really, it's training for the rest of their lives." | Laden points out that the skills acquired by participants, who earn up to 20% commission on the goods they sell, serve to maximise their marketability while also equipping them for a range of potential careers. "Retail is one of the fastest growing sectors in Kenya, so the chances are they will get a job in sales, marketing or promotions," she says. "But a lot of what they learn is transferable. Whatever they do after working with us, they need to be able to sell themselves. Really, it's training for the rest of their lives." |
| While the initiative remains a work in progress – it currently operates out of a single shop, although a second is expected to open later this month – its promise is undeniable. A total of 80 jobs have been created so far, with $100,000 worth of products sold. Springer estimates that those goods have benefited an estimated 10,000 people. With sales profit already covering operating costs, the model appears sustainable. | While the initiative remains a work in progress – it currently operates out of a single shop, although a second is expected to open later this month – its promise is undeniable. A total of 80 jobs have been created so far, with $100,000 worth of products sold. Springer estimates that those goods have benefited an estimated 10,000 people. With sales profit already covering operating costs, the model appears sustainable. |
| What stands out most about the project is its adaptability. Springer and Laden initially arrived in Kenya as part of a microloans project – "a generic solution to youth unemployment that you'll see anywhere in the developing world", says Laden – but swiftly changed tack when locals pointed out they wanted jobs rather than front money. Whereas development schemes often pay lip service to local ownership while imposing externally-devised solutions, LivelyHoods has sought to put round pegs in round holes from the outset. | What stands out most about the project is its adaptability. Springer and Laden initially arrived in Kenya as part of a microloans project – "a generic solution to youth unemployment that you'll see anywhere in the developing world", says Laden – but swiftly changed tack when locals pointed out they wanted jobs rather than front money. Whereas development schemes often pay lip service to local ownership while imposing externally-devised solutions, LivelyHoods has sought to put round pegs in round holes from the outset. |
| "We interviewed over 300 youths and found every single person had sold something at some point," says Laden, who believes consulting young people and providing tailored solutions to their problems is central to tackling youth unemployment. "It's vital to ask questions and really listen because, when people see that you're listening, and that your actions match your words, you gain trust." | "We interviewed over 300 youths and found every single person had sold something at some point," says Laden, who believes consulting young people and providing tailored solutions to their problems is central to tackling youth unemployment. "It's vital to ask questions and really listen because, when people see that you're listening, and that your actions match your words, you gain trust." |
| If the big question is how the model can be scaled up, the kernel of an answer lies in LivelyHoods' ability to link supply with demand. Springer estimates that globally slum communities have an annual purchasing power of $4bn. Companies are eager to tap that market with products that will benefit the poor, but distribution remains a major hurdle – one the LivelyHoods model can help them over. | If the big question is how the model can be scaled up, the kernel of an answer lies in LivelyHoods' ability to link supply with demand. Springer estimates that globally slum communities have an annual purchasing power of $4bn. Companies are eager to tap that market with products that will benefit the poor, but distribution remains a major hurdle – one the LivelyHoods model can help them over. |
| "We're using a largely untapped labour force to solve a distribution problem that exists all over the developing world," says Laden. "We're in a position where there are millions of unemployed youth on one side, and an endless supply of products that will benefit the poor and change people's lives on the other. They have no idea how to get those products into people's hands. So we look at the way we want to scale kind of like a Starbucks or a McDonald's – on every corner." | "We're using a largely untapped labour force to solve a distribution problem that exists all over the developing world," says Laden. "We're in a position where there are millions of unemployed youth on one side, and an endless supply of products that will benefit the poor and change people's lives on the other. They have no idea how to get those products into people's hands. So we look at the way we want to scale kind of like a Starbucks or a McDonald's – on every corner." |
| So, could it work? Jamie McAuliffe, the president and CEO of Education for Employment, a network of non-profits tackling youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa, believes the underlying principles are sound. "I see great potential if we can get more support like that to young people," says McAuliffe. "Access to market ideas are very powerful – it really opens up a whole different level of potential scale for young entrepreneurs." | So, could it work? Jamie McAuliffe, the president and CEO of Education for Employment, a network of non-profits tackling youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa, believes the underlying principles are sound. "I see great potential if we can get more support like that to young people," says McAuliffe. "Access to market ideas are very powerful – it really opens up a whole different level of potential scale for young entrepreneurs." |
| Editor's note: Would this project work elsewhere in Africa or in the global south? Tell us, in the comment threads below, about the innovative approaches being developed to tackle youth unemployment where you work. | Editor's note: Would this project work elsewhere in Africa or in the global south? Tell us, in the comment threads below, about the innovative approaches being developed to tackle youth unemployment where you work. |
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