Advancing Youth Employment Portfolio through Collaboration and Systems Thinking

January 21, 2025
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Rethinking Development in Complex Ecosystems

UNDP/Julieta Massango

In a recent meeting involving key UN agencies with investments in the youth employment ecosystem, including ILO, UNU-WIDER, UNIDO, and the UNDP Youth Portfolio team, insights were exchanged critical issues that are at play in  tackling Mozambique’s youth employment challenges, and the opportunities and entry points for increased collaboration.

In addition, agriculture, while central to the economy, remains rudimentary, and opportunities in manufacturing and agro-processing are untapped.

The session began with a walkthrough of our portfolio approach underpinned by  systems thinking and the rationale behind focusing on youth employment. Systems thinking applied to the problem of youth unemployment can be achieved by examining the work of UNDP and other partners to show where the synergies and complementarities lie and where system change will need to take place for accelerate youth employment.

This may include policies, services and practices, norms and mindsets, and resource flows, and it will demonstrate bringing together mutually reinforcing transformations on youth employment. This will also include learning and adaptation in the design and implementation of multiple alternative pathways to reaching goals. This collaborative effort underscored the importance of partnerships, leveraging synergies, and identifying leverage points to achieve scalable and impactful results.

Key Highlights and Opportunities

  • UNU-WIDER's Strengths: With expertise in research, data, and evidence, UNU-WIDER offers tools that can enhance learning and adaptive strategies in youth employment initiatives.
  • ILO’s Social Dialogue: ILO highlighted the role of social dialogue—bridging government, employers, and workers to foster decent work conditions and address systemic youth unemployment.
  • UNIDO’s Call for Systemic Transformation: UNIDO advocated for structural transformation, moving beyond incremental changes to focus on manufacturing, agro-processing, and value addition. These sectors, rich in job creation potential, remain underdeveloped in Mozambique.

But we have to remain alive to the challenges in Mozambique’s labour market, especially the lack of productive and decent jobs which presents a significant barrier to youth employment. In addition, agriculture, while central to the economy, remains rudimentary, and opportunities in manufacturing and agro-processing are untapped.

The Way Forward

To streamline efforts, the team agreed to map existing agency work and identify concrete areas of synergy for further discussion. A high-level policy dialogue involving the new government, was also proposed as a collaborative endeavor.

This meeting was a pivotal step toward realizing a robust, coordinated approach to youth employment. By harnessing the strengths of each partner, Mozambique can move closer to addressing systemic challenges and creating sustainable opportunities for its youth.