Education main theme for UN Private Sector Forum 2013

17 september 2013 | UN | While young people make up 37% of the working-age population in Africa, they represent 60% of the total unemployed population. This depth of exclusion has major implications for economic growth and social stability. That is why Education is one of the main themes at the UN Private Sector Forum (19-20 September 2013, New York). The Forum focuses on the role of the private sector in the post-2015 development agenda, with an emphasis on unique opportunities and challenges in Africa. Other topics are Employment and Inclusive Education, Women’s Empowerment, and Innovative and Sustainable Finance.

Introduction

Education is a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and is vital in preparing young people for decent jobs. Despite progress, current provisions for education and training in Africa are inadequate to effectively support young people as they transition from school to work. More than 20 per cent of African children have never attended primary school or have left without completing primary education(1). Only around one-third of children make it to secondary school(2). Too many young people leave school without the full range of skills needed in the workplace. This contributes to high rates of youth unemployment and large numbers of young people trapped in vulnerable employment without adequate pay or protection. This depth of exclusion has major implications for both Government and business, undermining broader economic development and social stability. This discussion will offer an opportunity to share experiences and discuss how the public and private sectors can partner to strengthen quality education and skills development so that Africa can achieve sustained and equitable economic growth.

Key Challenges

A persistent challenge for African development is providing quality education for all that is relevant to workplace needs. Many sectors currently have both high unemployment and skills shortages. Research by the World Bank reveals that 40 per cent of firms are concerned about the availability of adequately trained workers(3). Addressing this skills gap will require improving education opportunities to better address foundational skills, such as literacy and numeracy, and transferable skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking and entrepreneurial capabilities.

Expanding specialized technical and vocational training is equally important. A quarter of young men and one third of young women in Africa are illiterate(4), making access to quality primary and secondary education a top priority. Improved primary and secondary education must be accompanied by programmes to support those who did not attend school or left without gaining essential skills. Greater attention must also be given to workplace learning and training, including in Africa’s large informal sector, for which accurate data is lacking.

Solutions

The most promising solution is to combine investment in education and skills training with structural economic reforms and support for businesses. In this context, multi-national, national and local businesses offer an important source of capital, expertise and knowledge. Business, educators, Governments and other stakeholders can collaborate on:

  • Identifying current and future skills needed for the labour market, and designing and implementing appropriate workplace training programmes;
  • Improving data on skills acquisition to inform policymaking;
  • Co-funding and co-managing projects to improve access to education opportunities, develop high-quality skills and facilitate the transition from school to work;
  • Strengthening qualification systems to ensure quality and validation of various modes of education and skills acquisition;
  • Building alliances for workplace learning amongst business representatives, educational leaders, civil society and employment offices;
  • Providing the workforce with opportunities for mentoring, job shadowing, career advice and networking, as well as establishing systems to monitor workplace training; and
  • Creating innovative teaching methods and tools that foster creative and entrepreneurial thinking.
Discussion Question

How can public-private collaboration be strengthened to effectively support young people as they transition from school to work in African countries?

UN-Business Partnerships

Companies are encouraged to participate in the partnerships and initiatives below that are advancing this issue:

  • Global Education First Initiative: A platform launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2012 to strengthen partnerships in support of education and engage global leaders, including from the private sector, asadvocates for the central role of education in driving growth and development (www.globaleducationfirst.org).
  • The Youth Employment Network (YEN): A partnership of the UN, ILO and World Bank to mobilize actors to improve employment opportunities for youth. The initiative provides a platform for sharing knowledge,encouraging innovation and brokering partnerships (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/yen/).
  • Schools For Africa: Launched in 2004, the Schools For Africa initiative is a joint project of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Peter Krämer Stiftung and UNICEF. In the context of the child-friendly “Schools forAfrica” initiative, UNICEF is working with Governments, local authorities, communities, the private sector andother partners in 11 countries in Africa to create conditions that will attract children to school, keep them thereand provide them with a safe and protective environment (http://www.schoolsforafrica.org/).
  • Global Partnerships for Education: A multilateral public-private partnership focused on delivering a qualityeducation to all girls and boys in almost 60 countries, particularly the most poor and vulnerable. GPE bringstogether governments, international organizations, the private sector, teachers, and civil society/NGO groups,to implement sound education plans and coordinate resources to support their effectiveachievement (http://www.globalpartnership.org/).
  • Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education): An action-oriented organization that brings together corporate leaders committed to delivering quality education for all of the world’s children. Businesses join as members and cooperate with other companies to maximize impact in theeducation space, participate in delegations to advocate for change in education policy, and access cuttingedgeresearch on business engagement in education (http://gbc-education.org/).

Further information on these and other UN–business partnerships that could benefit from additional corporate
engagement and support can be found at www.business.un.org

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1 Education for All Global Monitoring Report and UNESCO (2013), Schooling For Millions Of Children Jeopardised By Reductions In Aid.
2 The Brookings Institution (2013), Narrowing Africa’s Education Deficit.
3 World Bank (2010), Stepping-up Skills: For More Jobs and Higher Productivity, The World Bank, Washington D.C
4UNESCO (2012), EFA Global Monitoring Report. Youth and Skills. Putting Education to Work