Green Skills ReadinessProgram

UNIYIA recognizes that there is a huge unemployment gap among youth in most African countries and the impact of COVID-19 was merciless on youth and marginalized groups. By 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42% of the world's youth and account for 75% of those under age 35 in Africa. Young people currently constitute 10.6% of unemployed Africans and with the youth population of Africa expected to increase, this calls for concern.

According to the International Labour Organization, young people are three times as likely as adults (25 years and older) to be unemployed. This is partly because of their limited work experience when they are applying for entry-level jobs, there are also major structural barriers preventing young people from entering the labor market.

Hence the need to propose solid interventions to curb the high rates of unemployment regionally and at national levels to meet global demands and standards. As we move towards recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, our new normal could look different as 84% of employers are set to significantly expand remote working. Also, by 2025, 85 million jobs could be lost to automation, while 97 million new roles will spring up at the interface between humans, machines, artificial intelligence, algorithms, etc.

With the GSRP, UNIYIA will train and capacitate youths in marginalized communities with modern skill sets they would need to thrive in an ever-growing and changing technologically advanced economy to meet the demands of a global market. Beneficiaries of the Green Skills Readiness Program would be trained in digital skills which will comprise basic and advanced computer skills, coding, remote working tools; and go through a series of mentorship to help equip them with soft skills in leadership and entrepreneurial skills.