The Africa Commission’s The Africa Commission’s – Thematic Conference– Thematic Conference

Youth & Employment: Preliminary Youth & Employment: Preliminary Presentation and Debate, IbisPresentation and Debate, Ibis

By Shani Mahama, Cand. Scient. By Shani Mahama, Cand. Scient. Soc.Soc.

The Current Dev’t DiscourseThe Current Dev’t Discourse

Service Delivery: education – mainly Service Delivery: education – mainly primary education, infrastructureprimary education, infrastructure

Democracy and good governanceDemocracy and good governance Advocacy and capacity buildingAdvocacy and capacity building Gender/WID– micro finance (young Gender/WID– micro finance (young

girls?)girls?) Small scale business/social Small scale business/social

enterprising?enterprising?

Any reason for discursive shift by Any reason for discursive shift by both major donors, and NGOs? both major donors, and NGOs?

ABSOLUTELY YES – towards youth ABSOLUTELY YES – towards youth and economic empowerment.and economic empowerment.Ref. Two recently published independent Ref. Two recently published independent studies in Ghana and Denmark on studies in Ghana and Denmark on causality between employment and crime causality between employment and crime show similar results.show similar results.

The Rockwool FoundationThe Rockwool Foundation

The study showed a co-relation The study showed a co-relation between frequency of crime and between frequency of crime and unemployment.unemployment.

Professor Kenneth Atafuah,Professor Kenneth Atafuah,GhanaGhana

““Fighting Armed Robbery in Ghana”Fighting Armed Robbery in Ghana” - Conclusion similar to Rockwool - Conclusion similar to Rockwool

Foundation’sFoundation’s Therefore AFC theme on Youth Therefore AFC theme on Youth and Employment is timely, to and Employment is timely, to address:address:

The absolutely less focus by NGOs The absolutely less focus by NGOs and Donors on job creation and and Donors on job creation and skill/capability enhancement.skill/capability enhancement.

Note the saying that, “the devil resides in an idle mind”Note the saying that, “the devil resides in an idle mind”

Neglect by NGOs and Donors on Neglect by NGOs and Donors on Youth IssuesYouth Issues

In the few cases of NGO involvement, focus In the few cases of NGO involvement, focus has been on traditional vocational training.has been on traditional vocational training.

Policies lack new thinking and Policies lack new thinking and innovativenessinnovativeness

Excess supply of low quality skill training – Excess supply of low quality skill training – NGOs and state institutional TVET schemes NGOs and state institutional TVET schemes all focus on sewing, carpenters, soap all focus on sewing, carpenters, soap making etc. (the question is whether making etc. (the question is whether development workers patronize what they development workers patronize what they train youth to produce?)train youth to produce?)

Recommendations 1Recommendations 1

It is about time to reduce focus on soft It is about time to reduce focus on soft values: democracy, good governance values: democracy, good governance and political empowerment and political empowerment giving giving voice!voice!

Move towards economic empowerment Move towards economic empowerment through effective job creationthrough effective job creation

““The egg is older than the chicken” The egg is older than the chicken” economic empowerment economic empowerment before democracy, if democracy should sustain.before democracy, if democracy should sustain.

Recommendation 2Recommendation 2

Democracy must come from within Democracy must come from within thru building social capital – thru building social capital – promoting associational life. promoting associational life.

NB: Democracy does not alleviate NB: Democracy does not alleviate poverty poverty it is secondary to eco. it is secondary to eco. growth!growth!

Economic empowerment will make Economic empowerment will make people demand voice, political rights people demand voice, political rights etcetc

Recommendation 3Recommendation 3

Vigorous institutionalization of Vigorous institutionalization of employment schemes (private & public employment schemes (private & public must remunerate fairly must remunerate fairly this might this might reduce corruption/fraud in the long run) reduce corruption/fraud in the long run)

Invest into social enterprising, Invest into social enterprising, occupational inclusion/integration occupational inclusion/integration irrespective of educational attainment.irrespective of educational attainment.

Replace schools with educational Replace schools with educational institutions (TVET)institutions (TVET)

Challenges for AFCChallenges for AFC

Will AFC make any difference or “a 9 days Will AFC make any difference or “a 9 days wonder”? the case of Blair’s…wonder”? the case of Blair’s…

The impact of AFC will greatly depend on The impact of AFC will greatly depend on CSOs, media and the general public’s CSOs, media and the general public’s ability to constantly press the gov’t to ability to constantly press the gov’t to implement recommendations of AFC. implement recommendations of AFC.

Gov’t ability to make the policy all Gov’t ability to make the policy all inclusive and across political lines (as at inclusive and across political lines (as at now, it is a political gimmick) and might be now, it is a political gimmick) and might be abandoned by a new government in the abandoned by a new government in the long-run.long-run.

The EndThe End

Tusind Tusind TAKTAK for for muligheden!muligheden!