UN Youth Advisory Group Explores PPPs to Address Youth Unemployment

Bridgetown, 13 September 2022: The UN Barbados and Eastern Caribbean’s regional Youth Advisory Group (YAG) recently held an intergenerational “Lunch and Learn” Panel Discussion that sought to explore Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an avenue to combat the perennial issue of youth unemployment in the Eastern Caribbean.

According to a 2020 UNICEF study, on Youth Unemployment in the Barbados and Eastern Caribbean area, while on average, youth account for between one in six and one in seven (15 percent) of the total population in the OECS area, the average youth unemployment rate is 26 per cent, over double that for the entire working population (12 per cent).

It was against this backdrop that Mr. Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, in his welcome remarks, described the virtual dialogue as critical.

“It seeks to explore avenues to address what is arguably the most crucial issue threatening the well-being and prosperity of youth in our sub-region – the issue of unemployment,” he underlined, noting further that that the situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the triple crisis, with consequent dire implications for SDG attainment.

In her keynote address, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, Minister for Social Development, Education and Library in Anguilla, made a call for more innovative strategies and solutions, including PPPs to address the issue.

In this regard, she highlighted the role of governments as “identifying PPP opportunities and benefits; and removing impediments by providing the private sector with appropriate incentives.”

Maurice John, Youth Entrepreneur in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in his passionate intervention suggested the integration of farming into the economy. “Given our heritage and farming background, a programme where we integrate farming and tourism is important,” he maintained positing the idea of a farming hotel where funding could be provided, and youth encouraged to take on the risk of business in the same way that they took on the financial risk of educating themselves.

Existing development-oriented policies that promote productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation among young people were high on the agenda during the lunch-time discussion.

The forum also explored strategies for public and private entities to work together, to foster increased youth entrepreneurship. Employment opportunities for persons under the age of 35, were also identified, with youth innovation opportunities in growth industries such as Information Communications Technology (ICT), the Blue and Orange Economies and even the Metaverse explored.

Panellists comprised officials with diverse backgrounds and experiences and included officials from the United Nations, government, and the private sector. Key points from the discussions will be compiled by the YAG and shared with relevant UN agencies for follow-up action.

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For further Information please contact:

Carol A. Gaskin 

Programme Communications and Advocacy Officer

UN Resident Coordinator Office

Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org; Mobile: 1 (246) 832-6110

Lorraine Nicholas (Ph.D.)

UN Country Coordination Officer - Saint Lucia/ Youth Focal Point

UN Resident Coordinator Office

Email: lorraine.nicholas@un.org; Mobile: +1 (758) 730-0771