Development organizations should 'walk the talk' on youth employment

In the international development community, experts and advocates have spent years warning about the threat posed by growing youth joblessness. As a sector, we must sound like a broken record sometimes, constantly urging decision-makers to address the marginalization of young people. A hard truth to swallow, however, is that many young people perceive international development organizations as failing to “walk their own talk” on this issue. Yes, we are right to demand that governments and private sector companies act to reduce youth unemployment, but there is also more our sector can do to give meaningful work opportunities to young people. Today, almost half of the world’s population (48.9 percent, according to Euromonitor International) is under 30, and the proportion is generally much higher in developing countries. Young people are pivotal to national development, have proven capability to lead change, and should be empowered to realize their potential. This generation should be seen as assets to the workforce, bringing fresh ideas and unique perspectives — and not as not merely passive recipients of our support. Yet it has never been harder for people in their early to mid-20s to find decent work opportunities. According to the International Labor Organization’s Global Employment Trends Report 2014, the youth-to-adult unemployment ratio reached a historical high in 2013, with young people three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Within international development organizations, and despite a wide pool of ready talent, young people often report that there are few paid, substantive, entry-level positions for recent graduates. This results in many pursuing unpaid or subsistence-level internships to gain experience. Rather than addressing this issue, the trend seems to be of organizations replacing entry-level positions with more such internships. Even if these are paid, the pay is usually not reflective of the level of work that is being asked of and delivered by the young professionals. The high demand for work experience, coupled with a shortage of graduate jobs, means that the internship route is often the only path for those seeking work in international development. We must ask ourselves who — except those with deep pockets or generous parents — can afford these internship? A study on internship quality led by the European Youth Forum revealed that only 25 percent of the interns surveyed were able to make ends meet with the compensation they were receiving, with 65 percent relying on financial assistance from their parents. Unpaid or subsistence level positions exploit the desperation of qualified young people to enter into the industry of their choice. They do not necessarily build young professionals’ expertise, and indirectly discriminate against professionals from less privileged backgrounds, who usually cannot afford to work for free. This is troubling for anyone who recognizes that the workplace should be a diverse environment representative of wider society. For organizations aspiring to help solve problems in developing countries, it is especially important that employment opportunities are given to young people from these countries. We need to represent the constituency we serve. The Commonwealth Secretariat has a long history of valuing and developing young people, and understands that the empowerment of young people is a vital investment. For this reason, last week we launched a Young Professionals Program which will allow us to benefit from the technical expertise, innovation, energy and perspectives of young graduates. Under the program, around 10 percent of our staff will be designated for young professionals — 27 positions in total. The program is a great opportunity for young professionals under 28 to embark on a career in international development. Successful candidates will take up substantive two-year positions in areas such as economic policy, rule of law, human resources and youth affairs. During this time, they will provide support to programs and operations, and benefit from professional development and mentoring. In turn, they will gain experience and exposure, as well as build their own networks. Underlying our approach is a belief that we should amplify the voice of young people by recognizing and supporting their role and contribution, and giving them a platform for their concerns and ideas to be heard. In creating this entry route, we are hoping to lead by example and “walk the talk.” Ultimately, though, we want young people everywhere to secure decent work, whatever their field of expertise. We want to see young people treated with dignity and respect, and get paid fairly for their efforts. With the right opportunities and support, young people can make great contributions to social, political and economic development. To make good on this vision, policymakers and employers must do all they can to recognize the capabilities of this generation and remove the barriers to them entering the workforce. Investing in young people is not just about the future — it is also crucial for today. Join the Devex community and access more in-depth analysis, breaking news and business advice — and a host of other services — on international development, humanitarian aid and global health.