joint
mag 17
Perspectives on German-African futures
February 2011
Unemployment
Perspectives on Youth Unemployment
Editors: Alexander Schwartz, Julian Bergmann,
Linda Poppe Editorial Team: K. Asante, J. Bergmann, M. Gatobu, L. Tsebe, B. Zasche, L. /Narib
AVAILABLE ONLINE:
www.bpb.de
CONTACT US:
goafrica@bpb.de
]
in this issue
3 Editorial
]
joint
mag 17
Perspectives on German-African futures
4 Latest from Go Africa Go Germany
sustainable partnerships
5 Unemployment - from Cairo to Cape Town
7 Young People Improving Employment
Prospects
9 Youth Employment in Nigeria
THE JM TEAM
EDITORS: Alexander Schwartz, Julian Bergmann, Linda Poppe // Editorial Team: K. Asante, J. Bergmann, M. Gatobu, L.
Tsebe, B. Zasche
LAYOUT & DESIGN: Leitago /Narib
PHOTOGRAPHS: Leitago /Narib, Go Africa Go Germany Community, R.M’ Timet, Google
We are on FACEBOOK
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If you “like”“Go Africa…Go Germany”
and thus add it to your profile, you can
follow the 4th generation on their upcoming trip to South Africa and meet
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to go to our facebook page click here
EDITORIAL
]
Dear Reader,
The events in Northern Africa have brought the issue of youth and unemployment to international attention. Reason enough to take a closer
look in this issue of JointMAG.
The European Youth Forum, an umbrella organization for youth in Europe, describes their demands for and role in European policy-making
on youth unemployment. And two of our alumni reflect on youth unemployment in Africa and a new, well-educated generation, which increasingly sees its hopes disappointed.
We would also like to welcome Julian Bergmann as our new editor. He
was previously part of the editorial team and steps in for Dennis. Welcome Julian. Thank you Dennis!
Best,
Alex Scwartz, Julian Bergmann & Linda Poppe
Editors
PS: Don’t miss our alumni news from Katja and Holger
CALL
FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
JM 19 - RELIGION
In JM 19, we will deal with the role of religion and interreligious dialogue in German and African societies. More precisely, we want to focus on the following questions: Is religion still an important aspect of
our cultural identities? How and to what extent do religion and faith influence our daily life? What political and societal roles do religious actors play? Do we need a “peace between religions” in our societies
and if so, how can we achieve it? Deadline for contributions is April 13th.
jm 3
joint mag ] FEBRUARY 2011
Latest from ‘Go Africa...Go Germany’
))Katja Böhler und Holger Ehmke
Dear current participants, alumni scholarship holdThe assessment of GAGG aims to evaluate the proers and friends of GAGG,
gram in regards to its relevance to development polTime runs fast and in less than two weeks the sec- icy issues and its possible impact.
ond part of the already fourth generation of GAGG Therefore, the examiners will focus their assessment
will take place in South Africa. Since it’s start in 2007, on GAAG’s strategy to train participants in political,
the number of participants increased constantly and social and economical topics to initiate and foster a
nowadays GAGG has become a vibrant network sustainable partnership in regards to economic- and
of more than 100 (incl. alumni) scholarship holders development policy topics. The so-called strategy of
‘Capacity Building’.
spread all over the world.
This network is not only based on online correspondences vie e-mail, social networks, the JointMAG and
visits in each others countries but also by GAGG’s
engagement to establish a stable foundation, which
currently prepares the already second Peer-Teaching-Meeting. Nevertheless the GAGG’s aim is to
strengthen its alumni structure – for e.g. a homepage with alumni section and podcasts of lectures, that
were part of different programs, is already under construction.
Furthermore, we want to initiate further activities to
develop the network. In order to ensure sustainable
growth and a secure financial founding for the alumni
network and to ensure the quality of our content, we
applied for a co-financing of the Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). To
evaluate the GAGG program and its possibilities to
be sponsored by the BMZ , two examiners will evaluate our current exchange program. The German part
will be evaluated retrospectively. In order to assess
the second part in South Africa, we will be joined for
10 days by Julia Pfinder, who will assess the program
on behalf of bpd, and by Karsten Weitzenegger, who
will assess the program on behalf of BMZ.
jm 4
joint mag ] FEBRUARY 2011
Furthermore, we hope to be able to show during the
time in South Africa how important it is to create
a common understanding of subjects such as governance structures, the role of society, federalism,
health systems, migration and religion in order to enable a meaningful discussion on eye level. As we are
confident that only a deep understanding of all participants regarding these issues allows a prosperous
development cooperation that is capable of finding
valuable solutions for problems of our time, we hope
to meet the expectations of the BMZ.
In order to get that deep understanding of our program, the examiners will not only participate to a certain extend, but also interview you, the current participants and some of our alumni scholarship holders.
We are really excited about this opportunity, and
hope to be supported by all of you in order to get
the GAGG program to the next level.
We keep you updated about the process.
All the best,
Katja Böhler und Holger Ehmke
Unemployment – From Cairo to Cape Town
))Lerato Tsebe, South Africa
google image
The past few weeks in the North Africa and Middle
East region, are with out fail going to be the most
historically relevant ones for people in that region
since pre and post cold war revolutions. Historically,
it would probably be safe to say that the magnitude
of the revolutions in Tunisia, and Egypt was never
calculated to have the spill over effect, which it did.
But, in Africa, I have come to learn, that once the
people have decided on their will, it will be so, and
no man, economy or religion will halt it’s personification. Every generation, has a defining moment,
an act, a person, a realisation but above all a hope,
that blossoms, and loudly pronounces their character. And in the recent past few weeks in North Africa,
the youth there certainly did just exactly that.
that permeate from Cairo, all the way down to Cape
Town. Unemployment, corruption, paralysed social
delivery systems and broad economic in-congruencies are all the toxic ingredients that have propelled
the social revolutions that have been witnessed in
North Africa. South Africa is no foreigner to these
elements; it would be safe to say that we are the
shameful custodian of the chief protagonist of these
ingredients, that being unemployment.
It is currently estimated that 40% of youth between
the ages of 18-35 are unemployed. A new characterization of this unemployment, is unemployment
amongst the middle class. This middle class bracket, I
shall classify as those that are in possession of a three
or four year University degree, that can be found
Beneath the euphoria of realising their goals, the fear Monday through Sunday, sitting around on corners,
of confronting regimes, and the anxiety of what will selling fruits and vegetables, with a glazed stare in
be after it crumbles, lays simple structural inequalities their eyes, wondering how it is that their hard earned
jm 5
joint mag ] FEBRUARY 2011
education, has not afforded them a better life. One of
the serious challenges that confront countries in Africa, is the question of what it is that they should do
with their youth. We are often used as an accessory
during election times, to buy in and secure votes, but
little more mileage is guaranteed for our usage after
electoral victories.
This could manifest itself in various ways, such as
entrepreneurship development funds, or trainning
in basic skills development. The idea that we are to
be reliant on African governments to create jobs is a
fallacy. Governments cannot create jobs, citizens and
business can. Opening the doors to access funding to
skill people and permit them to create businesses and
jobs for themselves is a desperately needed remedy,
Unemployment amongst us as the youth, is going to if other African governments are to avoid the bloodbe the Achilles heel for any government in Africa, run- shed that has been witnessed in North Africa. Africa
ning for positions of government, until this complex cannot have a continent of unemployed accountants,
issue is addressed. The problem for governments is teachers, engineers and doctors, if it is that there is
that they have approached the challenge of unemploy- any desire for the continent to compete in the global
ment amongst the youth, is a burden and not realised economy, as a dominant player.
it as an opportunity. I am part of generation of African
youth that constitute what I am going to label as the Youth unemployment is a toxic and dangerous chardemographic bulge. That is to imply that the popula- acterization of any democracy. On this continent
tion within this demographic, that currently consti- specifically, where the existence of it often has a ditute as youth, is going to make Africa the youngest rect correlation to high levels of crime and where
continent in the world for the next estimated twenty often, falsely, ethnicity serves to justify why some are
to thirty years. With this statistical reality slowly ap- employed and others are not. I remain as always a
proaching us, it is a wonder, that every government is prisoner of hope. I trust that as the generation of
not making youth entrepreneurship a policy priority. people within the demographic bulge populate the
continent, that they will no longer be found on the
The demographic bulge, provides government an corners of the street selling fruits and vegetables, but
HUGE opportunity to diversify, create and pursue rather leading various sectors of society and using
new economic avenues. This will aid in removing Afri- their hard earned university degrees to build a more
can economies from being merely reliant on produc- globally competitive continental economy.
tion, to propelling them to being manufacturers and
skilled in markets that most American and European Employed, or unemployed as a generation, we share
economies are disadvantaged at, largely due to the a common hope.
lack of natural resources in their continents. Africa is
in desperate need of having policies, programmes and Lerato Tsebe is an alumnus of the GAGG 1st generainstitutions that are going to challenge youth unem- tion who resides in Johannesburg, South Africa
ployment head on by providing resources and trainings to make available to its youth.
jm 6
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Young People Improving Their Own
Employment Prospects:
The example of the European Youth Forum
))The European Youth Forum, Brussels
More and more international reports focus on the
urgency of the situation of youth employment. Or
better, on the dramatic increase of youth unemployment rates. Following the uprising in Tunisia or
Egypt, as well as the mass student and youth protests in Greece, Italy, UK and France, European and
world leaders are running out of excuses for not
making the fight against youth unemployment a
world priority.
in the labour market. Improving the labour market
integration of young people shall be conceived as a
collective responsibility, which requires the equal involvement of actors such as public authorities, the
social partners and youth organisations.
In times when youth unemployment has reached such
unprecedented levels, young people are joining forces
both to motivate their governments to improve the
situation and take concrete action to improve their
own employment prospects and helping others to do
In Europe, young people have been disproportionally it. The European Youth Forum (YFJ), a youth-led plataffected by the global financial crisis. According to Eu- form, performs a lot of advocacy work at EU level
rostat, by mid 2010, 5.5 million young people aged 15- – working with European Parliament, European Com24 were unemployed. Young people also accounted mission and Council of the European Union to give
for 40% of workers on temporary contracts. Across inputs on time when important decisions are taken
the EU the youth unemployment rate is over 20%, regarding youth employment. Youth employment is a
double the average of the older population, in some strategic priority for the YFJ and many actions have
been taken already to improve the gloomy employEU countries youth unemployment is over 40%.
ment situation for young people in Europe.
Employment is central to youth autonomy. A rightsbased approach to employment is needed in order to
offer all employees (including youth) the same rights
jm 7
joint mag ] FEBRUARY 2011
Convincing the Governments: Youth Guaran- ternships must be, above all, a learning experience for
tee & European Quality Charter on Intern- young people that should facilitate their successful
ships
integration in the labour market. However, in many
countries, internships have become a precarious emEmployment is a rather complex issue that is closely ployment for young people - a cheap way to sublinked to all kinds of different policy areas. Employ- stitute workforce, often also working on issues and
ment is very important for young people to be able tasks that do not contribute to the progress in their
to start autonomously building their lives. The transi- professional development. With other relevant parttion from education to employment is a risky one: the ners (such as trade unions, employers’ organisations,
success or failure of the transition not only has high institutions, NGOs and so on) YFJ has started work
short-term costs, but can have an impact throughout on a proposal for a European Quality Charter on Inthe life cycle. Thus, the period of the transition is one ternships – a document that would call for specific
when young people risk poverty or social exclusion quality standards that should be applied to all interns
in the most extreme cases.
in the European Union.
It is of great importance to facilitate the entry of
all young people to the labour market, however no
single measure can ensure a smooth transition from
education to employment and a broad range of coordinated actions is needed. Policy responses should
target: more jobs (less unemployment), education and
skills matching labour market need, youth entrepreneurship, more tightly knit safety nets, encouraging
and supporting the participation of women and combat discrimination in the labour market to promote
equal opportunities, also more personalized guidance
and support should be available.
Regarding youth employment,YFJ has articulated several key requests, such as youth guarantee policies to
facilitate youth access to labour market. Youth guarantees would be a policy measure that should aim to
ensure that no young person is out of employment,
education or training for a period longer than four
months, unless s/he prefers so. Youth employment
monitoring should be in place, through the most appropriate bodies, to help implementing such youth
guarantee policies.
The European Quality Charter on Internships is another key request developed by the youth organisations of YFJ. Internships can be a valuable step in the
transition from education to professional life and in-
Doing the Job Ourselves: Youth Employment
Action
Improving the labour market integration of young
people has to be conceived as a collective responsibility, which requires the equal involvement of actors
such as public authorities, the social partners and
also youth organisations. For this reason, YFJ is also
running “Youth Employment Action” (YEA), a project established in September 2009 by a transnational
consortium of European Youth Forum Member Organisations to improve the position of young people
in Europe with regards to their access to the labour
market, enhancing their employability and making
them aware of their working rights.
Youth Employment Action was established to improve the situation of young people by providing
practical training and projects at local and European
levels, exchanging best practices, providing information on employment rights and resources and lobbying for constructive action to be taken to ensure adequate and fair employment opportunities for young
people in Europe. The organisations of the project
have already given skills and trainings to many young
people in Europe, and in some cases have even helped
young people find jobs.
The European Youth Forum (http://www.youthforum.org/) is an independent, democratic, youth-led platform, representing 98 National Youth Councils and International Youth Organisations from across Europe.YFJ
works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives, by representing
and advocating their needs and interests and those of their organisations towards the European Institutions,
the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
jm 8
joint mag ] FEBRUARY 2011
Youth Unemployment in Nigeria
A Case of Willingness vs. Incapacity
))Salaudeen Abdulrahman Adeshina
The case of youth unemployment in Nigeria has
beenn a popular discourse with various perspectives
as to causes and consequences of unemployment.
and tertiary education, towards capacitating them for
the labour market or - better still - for self-reliance.
Though some entrepreneurship modules have been
incorporated in most tertiary educational institutions,
The rate of youth unemployment has been alarming ac- they have been as far from achieving the goals they
cording to the National Bureau of Statistics. In 2004, ought to achieve as they are from reflecting the realiyoung people aged between 15-24 years made up 52.9% ties of challenges the potential graduate is likely to face
of the total number of unemployed persons while those in the labour market.
aged between 25-44 made up a further 41.1 % . It is also
estimated that there would be 14 million new entrants It is in the opinion of some, that there should be heavy
into the labour market between 2009-2011. These are investment in the education policy and institutions todisturbing figures considering the slow growth rate of wards a change in the way our education is run. In some
the Nigerian economy and the very volatile (economic, quarters, it is high time we took to a specialized career model where youths are driven towards developpolitical and social) nature of the Nigerian state.
ing specialty in their career sojourn??? right from the
Various programmes have been developed to tackle the secondary to tertiary education as this will build them
growing rate of youth unemployment but they all seem into proficiency and self belief andinto people who are
to be shortterm and not insightful enough. Most of the not worried about getting unemployed, but possess the
solutions have been superficially treating the problems technical competence to utilize their skills in solving the
socio-economic problems.
from the top rather than the root.
Referring to the careless, but well meaning statement of
the previous Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,
that over 75% of the Nigerian graduates are unemployable, it is worth asking if it is the fault of the Nigerian
youth. They generally show a high willingness to get educated, but are being shortchanged with an education
which does not prepare them for the harsh realities of
the labour market. A labour market which is capable of
absorbing less than 10% of them and leaving the rest to
do anything positive or negative with their situations .
Various programmes have been developed by the government through the Ministry of Youth Development,
scheming the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan
(NIYEAP). The NIYEAP is aimed at offering a multisectoral approach to the issue of youth unemployment
through the establishment of youth development centres in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. As ambitious as the idea is, it goes to show how disconnected
the development and implementation of the Nigerian
policy on education and employment is. The Nigerian
educational process, especially the tertiary education,
does not prepare the youth for self-empowerment or
employment in the first place. It lacks the right actions
that will drive youths, especially from the secondary
jm 9
joint mag ] FEBRUARY 2011
In order to solve the problem of youth unemployment
through education, our education process must focus
on merit in every aspect of it. This includes teachers
that have to be well trained and prepared to shape the
lives of the youth towards self-reliance by maintaining
strict admission requirements for intending educationists. Nigerians need to see education as a career and
not as an option where those that cannot make grades
to study courses of their choice are ‘dumped’ to study
education by compromise. Especially when they do not
know what it takes to study education and the inherent
responsibilities they are about to shoulder.
The institutional hiccups must be overcome in order
to avoid the double waste, where so much is spent on
educating a youth whose services are not needed. And
this youth in return burdens the economy and negatively adds up the rising number of the young dependent population. We must satisfy their willingness to
receive quality education that prepares them to solve
their problems and ultimately reduce the economic
problems of youth unemployment.
Salaudeen Abdulrahman Adeshina is an alumnus of the
GAGG 3rd Generation who resides in Lagos, Nigeria
joint
mag
Perspectives on German-African futures
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