ILO supports Botswana to finalise youth employment strategy

Mahalapye, Botswana (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) supported the Government of Botswana in finalising the National Youth Employment Strategy (YES), marking a key milestone in efforts to address rising youth unemployment. The activity involved participation from UNICEF and IOM representatives.

The youth in Botswana are facing twin labour market challenges of inadequate job creation demonstrated by a relatively high unemployment rate of nearly 40% as well as poor quality of the jobs that are created by the number of jobs - demonstrated by high informal employment rate of over 75%. At the time of the engagement, youth unemployment in Botswana stands at 38.2%, while the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) had reached 41.2%, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated and effective interventions. The Youth Employment Strategy was developed to respond to these challenges by promoting decent work opportunities, enhancing employability, and fostering inclusive economic growth.

Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs (MYGA), the ILO facilitated the final stages of the strategy by providing technical support. This included dedicated technical support to edit, format, and refine the draft strategy into a comprehensive and actionable document that aligns with national guidelines. The process was complemented by a two-and-a-half-day validation workshop, which brought together the Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising representatives from various Government Ministries and Departments, employers and workers organizations, youth associations and development partners.

The participants reviewed the draft strategy, provided critical inputs, and ensured its alignment with Botswana's national development priorities, including Vision 2036 and National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12). The engagement also strengthened the strategy pillars and key interventions and the multi-sectoral coordination mechanism which was recognised as essential in addressing youth unemployment in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. One of the important sessions that participants were taken through was on gender mainstreaming in policies and programmes to enhance their capacities to mainstream the needs of young women especially in the review of the strategy.

The development of the YES is taking place within the context of other relevant important national reforms and initiatives, including the review of the National Youth Policy, the remodelling of the Youth Development Fund, the accelerated implementation of the National Employment Policy and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme.

In her remarks at the workshop, the Deputy Principal Secretary from the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Thapelo Phuthego spoke about the role that the strategy is expected to play in dealing with the pressing youth employment challenge in Botswana. She also challenged the young people to take initiative and take steps to go out and actively seek opportunities, and not only wait for what government can provide, as the country was going through a lean spell owing to global developments.

Once finalised, the YES is expected to guide the implementation of coordinated youth employment interventions, strengthen institutional ownership, and support resource mobilisation. Ultimately, the strategy will be in a position to drive sustainable job creation, expand skills development opportunities, and place young people at the centre of Botswana's socio-economic transformation.