ILO Ethiopia’s Youth Network Committee members recommit to advancing meaningful youth participation

Jigjiga, Ethiopia (ILO News) - Young leaders from across the country convened in Jigjiga on 29 -30 October 2024 for the quarterly meeting of the ILO PROSPECTS Youth Network Committee (YNC). This meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, experts, and representatives from international organizations, all united in their mission to promote and enhance youth employment opportunities for refugees and their host community counterparts.

The meeting was graced by the presence of Mohamed Ayanle Dahir, Deputy Head, the Somali Region Youth and Sport Bureau. In his opening remarks, he underlined importance of youth employment stating, "Young people constitute a large portion in Ethiopia's population. Addressing youth employment will address the country's development challenges and enable young people to contribute to their growth."

Mohamed Ayanle Dahir, Deputy Head, the Somali Region Youth and Sport Bureau speaking at the opening

The meeting provided a platform to the ILO PROSPECTS partners to present their work in fostering youth engagement and promoting employment creation in Ethiopia. During the meeting, the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) of Ethiopia which highlighted Ethiopia's Global Refugee Forum (GRF) pledges and commitments. RRS representative Abraham Yirgalem emphasized the critical role of involving youth in realizing the GRF pledges and expanding their role from beneficiaries to the implementing contributors to the government pledges.

Representatives from the Somali Region Skills and Job Creation Bureau provided insights into various initiatives aimed at increasing job opportunities for youth, one of the key objectives of YNC. Their presentation outlined strategic plans to empower young people through skills development and entrepreneurship.

Officials of the Somali Regional State Bureau of Innovation and Technology presented their role to promote youth engagement and youth employment. In partnership with the ILO, the bureau operates a Digital Innovation Hub, which promotes digital skill and employment opportunities for youth.

UNICEF Ethiopia showcased its innovative Youth Engagement and U-Report activities, which serve as platform to engage young people to provide input, voice their opinions and influence decision-making processes for both government and UNICEF as it helps understand the needs and challenges of young people.

Abigya Endal, a newly inducted member of the YNC, shared her personal journey and aspirations since joining the committee. She expressed,

"I joined the YNC to collaborate with like-minded young people, to develop innovative solutions and advocate for policies that improve youth employment."

Abigya Endal, a newly inducted member of the YNC, shared her personal journey and aspirations

She praised the proactive steps taken to involve young people in the design, implementation and monitoring of youth employment programs, affirming her belief in the power of young people in driving impactful and responsive policies and programmes.

Her sentiment and appreciation were shared by other committee members who valued the collaborative environment provided by the ILO for knowledge exchange to address the specific needs and aspirations of the youth.

The meeting also featured awareness raising session on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), provided by UNHCR, enhancing youth awareness on the critical subject.

Four out of ten organizations benefitting from the ILO's Youth to Youth Fund presented their program models to receive inputs from the YNC members. Y2YF is a competitive grant scheme that provides financial, technical and mentorship support to youth-led organizations with innovative projects to create opportunities for youth to start or improve their small enterprises or other entrepreneurial initiatives. Members of the committee provided input on beneficiary selection, collaboration between different partners and link between skills and jobs.

To conclude the meeting, Marta Tsehay, National Programme Officer of the ILO PROSPECTS Program reported the significant contribution made by the YNC members to the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of PROSPECTS in Ethiopia and the PROSPECTS initiative on Advancing Young People's Engagement and Meaningful Participation in the PROSPECTS Partnership.

"The Youth Network Committee is an important platform to shape employment outcomes for youth that are inclusive of refugees and traditionally marginalized community members," said Marta.

About Youth Network Committee

Established in October 2022, the YNC functions as a formal advisory group within the ILO PROSPECTS program, which focuses on improving the socio-economic inclusion of forcibly displaced persons and host communities. The committee's quarterly meetings serve as vital platforms for reviewing ongoing project activities, sharing best practices, and providing strategic direction to ensure that the youth employment agenda remains at the forefront of policy discussions.

By fostering collaboration among young people, government entities, and international partners, the YNC is making meaningful strides in advancing the youth employment agenda in Ethiopia. This commitment to collaboration and innovation marks a promising step toward a future where youth are not only participants but leaders in the development of their communities.

The meeting was a part of the initiative led by the ILO and supported by UNICEF, and UNHCR, aimed at ensuring that young people in forced displacement contexts have a meaningful voice in the policies and programs that shape their futures. By facilitating active participation from youth, these organizations seek to create an inclusive environment that addresses the unique challenges faced by young individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities.

PROSPECTS is spearheaded and funded by the Government of the Netherlands, and implemented by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNICEF and the World Bank