Youth

It’s time to push out the frontier of what is possible. To help every young person successfully transition from education and training to decent work, we must leverage the full potential of recent breakthroughs in research, data, technology and economics. Generation Unlimited has defined ten Global Breakthroughs that can harness the power of major…, Explore the Global Breakthroughs, Digital Connectivity Digital Connectivity How can we affordably connect all schools to the Internet? How can we give young people digital skills so they can fully and meaningfully participate in the digital economy? Job-matching icon Job-matching How can we harness data from labour markets to shorten the feedback loop between employers and…, What’s next?, Generation Unlimited is working to: 1. Create a consortium of experts on each Global Breakthrough. Use Generation Unlimited’s convening role and power to drive momentum. Identify sponsors of specific Global Breakthroughs. 2. Co-create tangible business plans, with the support of a consultancy firm. 3. Identify in-kind and financial contributions…

Four young people collaborate at a laptop computer in Viet Nam., How can innovative financing mechanisms unlock the potential of each of the other Promising Ideas?, The Issue The scale of resources needed to address the needs of young people is considerable. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will take between US$5-7 trillion, with an investment gap in developing countries of about US$2.5 trillion. Skills and livelihoods have…

Jaden Michael, a young actor, speaks into a microphone at an event for World Children’s Day., How can we use new forms of data to better measure, quantify and understand young people’s empowerment?, The Issue There are no commonly agreed measures of youth empowerment and participation. For instance, while there are 230 indicators under the Sustainable Development Goals, none of them measures nor attempts to quantify youth empowerment. This undermines the credibility of investments aimed at raising empowerment as their efficacy cannot be…

A young Syrian man graduates in Jordan., How can we make sure that the certifications young people receive are portable and recognized across national boundaries?, The Issue At present, there are approximately 232 million migrants around the world, representing 3.1 per cent of the global population. About 50 million of these migrants are children and adolescents; simultaneously, about one in eight migrants are between the age of 15 and 24. However, their qualifications are not always recognized in the areas…

Two boys use a computer together in Azerbaijan., How can we utilize artificial intelligence-based language translation to enable more young people to access resources for learning, skills development and employment?, The Issue There are more than 6,000 spoken languages in the world today. However, most learning, skills development and work opportunities are provided in only a small handful of languages. Language serves as a critical barrier for young people to gain the skills necessary for the future. For example, among the 12 most popular platforms that offer…

Two girls embrace in India., How can we leverage cognitive behavioural therapy for young people affected by conflict and effectively combine it with other interventions?, The Issue Globally, up to 20 per cent of young people aged 15 to 24 suffer from mental health conditions each year. This proportion is considerably higher in areas of conflict or humanitarian disasters. For example, up to 75 per cent of young people exposed to conflict suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health issues have…

A young woman stands on a hilltop in Lebanon, with many buildings in the background., How can we expand access to remote learning and work opportunities for young people who live in refugee camps or have limited local opportunities?, The Issue Opportunities for learning and work have historically been a function of location. This is a critical constraint for young people living in areas with limited local economic opportunity. According to the ILO’s School-to-Work Transition Surveys (SWTS) 2017, young people living in rural areas had a longer transition: 15.4 months, compared…

A girl walks home from school in Sudan., How can new breakthroughs in personalized technology-supported learning (i.e. artificial intelligence) be deployed to support remedial education for young people whose education has been disrupted by conflict, shock or migration?, The Issue There are 263 million school-aged children and young people out of school, 53 per cent are upper-secondary school age. In conflict or disaster-stricken countries, 3 in 10 young people are illiterate. This figure is triple the global rate. The impact of a disruption in education on youngpeople’s development can have permanent effects.…

Anwar and Dina, two young Syrian refugees, show their inventions of battery-powered lamps at a refugee camp in Jordan., 1. How can we provide young people with skill-development opportunities in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector?, The Issue Imbalances persist between skills offered and skills needed for the green transition. According to a recent ILO study, this skills mismatch is identified as an obstacle to the greening of the economy in 21 of 27 countries surveyed. While the on-ramp for many career paths are clear (such as becoming a doctor, lawyer, nurse, electrician,…, 2. How can we provide renewable energy to off-grid schools?, The Issue Today, 1 out of 5 upper and lower secondary schools worldwide are not electrified. Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit: nearly 1 in 2 secondary schools in the region lack electricity. Educational facilities require energy for lighting, cooking, heating, cooling, water delivery and purification, as well as information and communication…

An adolescent girl leans against the blackboard, holding her school supplies, in a classroom in Zambia., How can we harness data from labour markets to shorten the feedback loop between employers and education providers so that young people can develop skills that are in demand?, The Issue Globally, an estimated 21.8 per cent of young people are neither in employment, education nor training (NEET). Youth are three times as likely as adults to be unemployed. There is strong evidence of a skills mismatch between young people and employers. A McKinsey global survey found that while 72 per cent of educational providers…

A girl raises her hand in class in Djibouti., 1. How can we affordably connect all schools to the Internet?, The Issue Globally, 29 per cent of young people aged 15 to 24 worldwide – around 346 million – are not online. Young people in Africa are the least connected. Around 60 per cent of population aged 15-24 in Africa are not online, compared with 4 per cent of those in Europe. Connectivity varies widely across the globe and within the regions. In…, 2. How can we provide young people with digital skills so that they can fully and meaningfully participate in the digital economy?, The Issue Digital literacy and skills are essential for young people to have meaningful access to the internet, allowing them to be both safe and successful online and to fully exercise their rights, including the right to privacy, freedom of expression, information and education. However, most adults in low- and middle-income countries lack basic…

Now more than ever, the world needs young people’s ideas, their talents and their energy. Inspiring young people to tackle some of today’s biggest challenges can lead to innovative and entrepreneurial social change – ultimately helping to bring about a more equal and sustainable world.   Since it was set up in 2018, imaGen Ventures has provided…, Past Editions  , GENERATION UNLIMITED YOUTH CHALLENGE 2019/20 Launched in September 2019, the Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge 2019/20  took place in 36 countries worldwide and was co-hosted globally by four Generation Unlimited partners – UNICEF , UNDP , Plan International and the W orld Organization of the Scout Movement , with support from Irish Aid . In…, Join us, “Give it a try! You will become the person who will lead by example, creating a change.” - Danijela, 20, at the Youth Challenge in Montenegro. Two participants present their ideas at the Youth Challenge in Montenegro. UNICEF Montenegro Your creativity and passion can unlock new ideas and create a world without limits. We hope you can be a part of…, Partner with us, We are inviting expressions of interest for global, regional and country level partnerships with the Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge. This is an exciting opportunity to empower young people, sponsor a rapidly growing initiative and join us in building sustainable impact throughout the world. Alongside financial partnership, we welcome support…