Based on field work in the three targeted countries and a literature review the aim was to compose a set of very practical critical standards for effective youth (un)employment programmes to guide future programmes as well as potentially scaling up of the Youth Building the Future programme.

Research that provides practical suggestions

A literature review conducted by Accenture in 2013 demonstrated that much of the literature on youth employment is diagnostic rather than practical, with limited information about what actually works. There is therefore a demand from practitioners for research that provides practical suggestions to guide them, to inform other stakeholders and to improve the quality and impact of skills-based youth employment programmes. With this in mind, the research undertaken for this study was pre-eminently practical and provides an overview of the critical factors that must be taken into account by practitioners if youth employment programming is to foster significant and sustainable development outcomes for the young people taking part in them.

Results

The published report identifies critical factors for youth employment programmes, applicable to programs that aim to ensure access to the labour market and decent jobs, as well as to those focusing on entrepreneurship development, and informs those involved in youth employment programming as well as policy makers, corporations, training institutes and other relevant stakeholders interested in youth employment issues. The critical factors have been organized across three stages: Exploration and engagement, Implementation, and Sustainability.