From Forbes

It is not easy to be young and in the labor market today. In the midst of economic and political flux, youth face a lot of uncertainty about their future. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), global unemployment is reaching crisis levels at 12.6 percent. But recent projections from the UN Population Division tell a significant story: the demographic future of the world will be Africa-driven.

Currently, 70% of Africans are under the age of 30. By 2040, 50% of the world’s youth will be African, most of whom will be women and girls. With nearly half of the youth population in Africa currently unemployed or inactive—and 72% living on less than $2 per day—communities are finding it more urgent than ever to enable new avenues and solutions for the creation of quality jobs that make way for youth livelihoods and productivity. How these communities address this challenge could shape the future of the world in unprecedented ways.

What are the solutions and trends for the youth employment challenge in sub-Saharan Africa? Ashoka has partnered with The MasterCard Foundation for ‘Future Forward,’ an initiative identifying the most innovative social entrepreneurs addressing the youth employment crisis and convening thought leaders, youth and innovators to discuss insights and best practices about ways forward for Africa’s youth.

Read more at Forbes