Our Work In Countries
Supporting every young person to thrive in the world of work
Generation Unlimited has already started operating in countries to implement its business model and together with partners is designing country investment agendas – portfolios of scalable, bankable initiatives and innovations - that can attract public-private partnership and investment for better education, skills, entrepreneurship and employment for millions of young people.
This involves strong commitment and leadership from highest levels of government, engagement of the private sector through shared value partnership, and participation from relevant international and local civil society organizations and, importantly, young people at all stages.
Generation Unlimited invites a group of local leaders representing business, government and civil society – including young people – to commit to the partnership in each Generation Unlimited country. Argentina, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa are just some of the initial countries identified as promising markets. The country-level coalitions develop localized, country-specific investment agendas in collaboration with national governments, companies, development agencies, youth organizations and civil society.
BANGLADESH
Generation Unlimited has been launched in Bangladesh, under government leadership, with the goal of reaching at least 7.3 million young people with education, skill development and employment opportunities by 2030. Partners include BRAC, ILO, UNICEF, the World Bank and Access 2 Information, among others. Fifteen industry associations representing more than 500 national businesses are also expected to join. Building on this public-private platform, Generation Unlimited Bangladesh will identify and scale up initiatives that strengthen school to work transition and skills development for out-of-school youth. This includes scaling up the Alternative Learning Programme (ALP) which brings together public and private partners to enhance the education, skills and employability of disadvantaged youth. Generation Unlimited Bangladesh will also focus on creating more than one million new apprenticeship opportunities in formal and informal sectors by 2023 in partnership with government and the private sector.
KENYA
In Kenya, significant investments are already being made in youth skills and employment by the Government under the leadership of President Kenyatta, a Generation Unlimited Leader and one of the earliest champions of Generation Unlimited. The Kenya government is using the Generation Unlimited platform to coordinate these programs, strengthen synergy and establish stronger linkages between supply and demand of labour, leveraging the assets of the country’s vibrant private sector and engaging young people in co-creation. 2 A Generation Unlimited national committee, co-chaired by the President’s Deputy Chief of Staff and the UN Resident Coordinator and comprised of all relevant government and non-government stakeholders including the private sector, is coordinating this effort which will inter alia inform the design of a portfolio of investment opportunities to scale up actions on education, skills development and employment.
INDIA
Generation Unlimited was launched in India on 1 November, 2019, led by the government with public and private sector partners and young people, and a national Generation Unlimited secretariat will be hosted initially by UNICEF. A landscape analysis was conducted on priority areas for young people, including school-to-work transitions, career counselling, and youth engagement. This has led to the development of a partnership roadmap and a first portfolio of initiatives developed with the private sector and foundations, including UNILEVER, SAP, Quess, CapGemini, Accenture and Mahindra. Partnership agreements between Generation Unlimited and the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship, and Ministries of Skills, Youth Affairs and Education are under development, as well as with private sector partners and foundations. As part of Generation Unlimited, UNICEF India in partnership with NITI Aayog, a think tank of the Government of India, is supporting the Atal Innovation Mission - a flagship initiative of the Government that will foster innovation and support technology-based entrepreneurship across India through solutions generated for and by young people. Also, a Career Guidance Portal has been launched in three states, including in Rajasthan where it is supporting over 2 million young people in their transition to adulthood.
SENEGAL
Young people in Senegal are spearheading the development of a local chapter of Generation Unlimited, with a focus on multi-sectoral partnership to coordinate youth development. A coalition of 25 youth organisations (identified through a survey and mapping) is being built with the potential to offer at-scale services in learning, participation and employment opportunities. It will be supported by a Strategic Orientation Council of 30 leaders from government, civil society, the private sector, United Nations and other development partners. The coalition will focus on 1) creating a joint online platform that houses opportunities for young people; 2) building a youth leadership and development center; and 3) hosting a presidential summit in mid-2020 to launch the initiative. By December 2019, the coalition will submit an action plan to the President of Senegal to inform the national youth development plan and by 2021, the model will open opportunities for replication in other countries, especially in the southern Sahel region.
WHAT'S NEXT
Generation Unlimited will soon start working in additional countries to attract and crowd-in funding to design and execute country investment agendas. This includes Rwanda, Mexico, Ethiopia, South Africa and Indonesia and others will follow soon.
Additionally, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has expressed interest in convening partners and rolling out Generation Unlimited in four countries in Africa. (The specific countries are being determined).
Also, the partnership between Generation Unlimited and the World Bank is also progressing, with the alignment of $1 billion investment to boost job prospects in countries. An initial list of countries with projects that will benefit from these resources includes Bangladesh, Nigeria and Tajikistan.