Youth Employment Support JOBS

The Youth Employment Support (YES) Jobs for the Unemployed and Marginalized young People (JUMP) is part of the ILO’s response to the Decent Work Country Programme adopted by the Government, Workers and Employers. The objective of the ILO YES-JUMP Project is to contribute to the poverty alleviation efforts through creating decent and sustainable jobs for the youth of poor and marginalized communities. The YES JUMP project aims to help partner communities and youth groups find more socially responsible and community driven solutions to poverty alleviation, with alteast 50% of its target group being young women.

YES-JUMP, has been established in Kenya and Zimbabwe, with overall technical management from ILO’s Regional Office for Africa in Addis Ababa. The project facilitates and supports entrepreneurship development, skills training, technical and financial support to local job creation schemes and strengthening small enterprises and cooperatives and business development services. The project strategy is to create a broader partnership between local stakeholders to implement priority projects for youth at the community level.
It is a two year pilot project funded by the Federal Republic of Germany.

It is a part of ILO’s response to the Global Jobs Crisis in supporting young men and women in jobs creation and enterprise development. The principles of Decent work, Sustainable livelihoods and community participation guides the project in its strategy.

The two immediate objectives of the project are:

1. In order to reduce poverty, 1000 sustainable and decent jobs are created for young women and men in selected communities in each project country, taking participatory approaches.
2. Selected project partners at national and local levels are fully able to design and implement their own youth employment schemes (institutional building)


To ensure national ownership and a community driven project, the project’s guiding structures are the National Steering Committee at the national level, the Pilot project Implementation Committee at the community level with the Local Community Facilitators at the field level. The project is mainly guided by all these committees.


Project duration – 2009 – 2011

Target group – The intended beneficiaries are the young women and men in rural and urban economies in Kenya and Zimbabwe, as identified by the project partners and the National Steering Committee. These also youth organizations including cooperatives, associations, local community organizations at the community level.


YES JUMP take the following approach to develop and implement the pilot projects:


1. Poverty reduction through community based job creation schemes
2. Provision of business development services to address the gaps identified to supplement its job creation efforts
3. National, local ownership and involvement at all stages of the project

Project team

Chief Technical Adviser – Ms. Charu Bist, ILO Regional Office for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Kenya
National Project Coordinator – Ms. Jane Maigua, ILO Office in Nairobi
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Administrative Assistant – Ms. Mwongeli Muthuki

Zimbabwe
National Project Coordinator – Mr. Tapera Muzira, ILO Office in Harare, Zimbabwe
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Administrative Assistant – Ms. Pamela Masango

Prestigious US$350,000 Africa Entrepreneurship Prize Launched

Dubai, June 29th, 2010 - Legatum, a privately owned international investment group, and Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm, today announced the launch of the 2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, one of the continent’s most prestigious business awards.

The Legatum Africa Awards programme recognises and rewards African business leaders who embody the entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrate the qualities required to succeed in business - determination, a commitment to excellence, innovation and profitability. Leaders of small and medium sized enterprises (annual revenues between US $2 - $25 million) have the opportunity to submit online entries at www.africaawards.com until 31st August 2010. Applicants will be evaluated across a unique set of criteria to determine the winner.

"This is the third year that Legatum has offered an award for Entrepreneurship in Africa" said Alan McCormick, Managing Director of Legatum, "and over that time we have found many dynamic entrepreneurs across the continent, whose businesses are building prosperity for their communities".

Mr. McCormick continued, "The Legatum Africa Awards celebrates the very best businesses from across Africa and showcases their leadership, which through hard work, determination and a creative approach, are the foundation for their nation’s wealth and well-being. Our goal is to encourage the next generation of aspiring business people and pave the way for increased investment in Africa, a continent teeming with opportunity".

The 2010 Africa Awards programme builds upon similar competitions in 2007 and 2008, and is expected to attract 1,500 entries from fifteen countries. This year, submissions will be accepted from Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. A total of US$ 350,000 will be awarded to the winners, and the funds directed towards growth and strategic re-investment in their companies.

Winners will be selected based on a rigorous and transparent selection process by an international panel of leading business experts. "Omidyar Network and Legatum share the conviction that entrepreneurs are vital to creating new opportunities in Africa", said Matt Bannick, Managing Partner of Omidyar Network. "With the expanded reach of this year's awards, we will identify and support the dynamic business leaders who are driving innovation, economic growth and terrific new opportunities across the continent."

The 2010 Legatum Africa Awards will conclude with a Gala Awards Banquet in early December 2010 in Accra, Ghana. Finalists and winners will be honoured in the presence of an international audience of leading businesspeople, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.

For more information visit..http://www.legatum.com/

UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund

Youth-led organizations in developing countries working to improve the lives of young people and their communities can now seek financing for their projects through the UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund.

The Fund will provide grants for innovative projects that promote employment, good governance, shelter and secure tenure.

Only applicants aged 15-32 from cities in developing countries can qualify for a grant.

Support will be provided primarily for those working to improve slum conditions and to raise opportunities for young people growing up in poverty.

Projects encouraging gender equality or involving partnerships with the government or the private sector are particularly welcome.

Small development initiatives are eligible for grants of up to USD 5,000, and larger projects up to USD 25,000.

Deadline: 15 April 2010.

Details: www.unhabitat.org/youthfund