E4E Initiative for Arab Youth IFC - World Bank Group
Dahlia KHALIFA Regional Head, E4E Initiative IFC – World Bank Group
Our Vision and Mission
E4E Initiative for Arab Youth aims to provide youth with skills
that are relevant to the marketplace by investing in education,
engaging stakeholders, and enabling solutions so that Arab Youth
earn a better future
The Issues facing Youth in the Arab Region
Arab Youth Unemployment Highest in World
Arab region plagued with 25% youth unemployment, among highest in the world, and 50% of population below age 25
$40-50 Billion Annual Opportunity Cost
Direct opportunity cost of youth unemployment to the Arab region estimated at $40-50 Billion annually
Labor Particitpation Rates Among Lowest in World
Arab region’s labor participation rates amongst lowest worldwide, currently 35% vs. global average of 52%,
and lowest for women
Matching Skills to the Job Market Better is Crucial
E4E Strategy to Drive Youth Employability
Investments
Increase supply of work-ready students
Investments in university education, Vocational Education & Training (VET) and work-readiness programs
Investment vehicles to bring in other investors and diversify mechanisms
Enabling Environment
Address operating environment
In-depth country assessments
Standards and quality assurance
Address regulatory disincentives
Match-making
Advocacy
Changing the mindsets
Signifying the importance of TVET, entrepreneurship, and work-readiness training
Enhancing information sharing mechanisms
Raising awareness Forming partnerships
Entrepreneurship…Gender…Inclusiveness
Key Success Factor to Enable E4E: Engaging Multiple Actors
“All Hands on Deck”
Cross-Cutting Enablers to Create E4E Eco-system
E4E Sector Focus to Narrow Skills Gap & Enhance Youth Employability
Skill gaps in Egypt’s construction sector
E4E - Pursuing a sector focused strategy
Jordan E4E priority sectors
E4E - Pursuing a sector focused strategy
Tunisia E4E priority sectors
E4E in the Arab world…
Challenge: Arab youth, like growing numbers of youth elsewhere including in advanced economies, suffer from high unemployment driven in large part by skills incongruent to labor market needs
Private sector: has role to play both as a provider of quality and relevant education and training, and in collaborating with providers to improve quality of education provision
Solution: Skills gaps can be addressed both by focusing on sector solutions and by unlocking cross-cutting system enablers
Call to action: Multiple actors need to take up their roles in addressing the youth employability challenge, working together to implement E4E solutions
E4E Initiative for Arab Youth IFC - World Bank Group
Dahlia KHALIFA Regional Head, E4E Initiative IFC – World Bank Group