In Niger between 2005 and 2018, the proportion of young people aged 15-24 who were not in employment, education or training increased from 23% to 69% (with the rate three times higher among young women). The Government of Niger has implemented multiple youth employment policies and programs (YEPs) to tackle this issue. However, they have not met the country’s target of creating 50,000 jobs per year nor achieved a permanent employment rate of 40% for rural youth by 2021. A team of local researchers evaluated four existing YEPs in terms of effectiveness, impact and inclusivity. They found that providing support for entrepreneurs who are graduates can increase the success of the entrepreneurial activities. However, vocational training and integration through an income-generating activity is needed for young people who have never attended or who dropped out of school.
Find out more about the research methods, findings and policy recommendations in the following PEP publications:
Working Paper 2023-20 (in French) | Policy Brief 273 | More about the What Works for Youth Employment in Africa initiative, supported in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation