Best Practices in Job Creation
In collaboration with United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Lessons from Africa
This study examines some of the more recent job creation initiatives across the African continent, with the aim of identifying the factors that have contributed to the success of these initiatives. This, in turn, provides insights that can be considered when formulating future policies aimed at stimulating employment.
Creating sustainable employment opportunities remains a challenge globally. However, Africa’s unemployment situation is arguably the continent’s most pressing concern, especially in light of emographic trends characterised by a young and growing population. Apart from the negative socio-economic consequences related to elevated unemployment, especially among the youth, Africa runs the risk of missing out on the benefits of the so-called demographic dividend. Employment creation is therefore of the utmost importance to drive Africa’s broader development goals and address serious issues such as widespread poverty, income inequality, gender disparities and insecure livelihoods.
It is towards this end that this paper examines some of the more recent job creation initiatives across the continent, with the aim of identifying the factors that have contributed to the success of these initiatives. The socio-economic diversity across the continent means that the success of an initiative in one country does not guarantee success in another, but there are undoubtedly lessons to be learnt from experiences across the continent. This, in turn, provides insights that can be considered when formulating future policies aimed at stimulating employment.
The experts behind the research
Our Africa Consulting team include specialists in quantitative economic analysis, working with clients around the globe and across sectors to build models, forecast markets and evaluate interventions using state-of-the art techniques. Lead consultants on this project were:
Cobus de Hart
Director of Africa Consulting
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