Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa)
Tesfalem Waldyes
24 November 2008
A Danish initiative targets effective development cooperation with the African continent and plans to increase the number of new jobs created annually from the present eight million to 15 million.
If the initiative is implemented, it will lay the foundation for job creation for African youth, who constitute 44pc of the working population.
The initiative, dubbed African Commission, was launched by the Danish Government in April 2008. Its objective is to find ways of improving job opportunities for young Africans. It also aims to lay down the basis for the creation of millions new jobs through expansion of the private sector in Africa.
Giving the best opportunities for education and employment for African youth is one of the three main challenges the commission identified as areas that require more action. Climate change and shortcomings in women empowerment are the further challenges.
The commission embraces international members that include Heads of States and governments, politicians, experts, business people and representatives of international and regional organizations, as well as the academia. Most of the commissioners are from Africa and the current Danish Prime Minister, Andres Fogh Rasmussen, is chair of the commission.
Before presenting its findings and recommendations, the commission planned to have two meetings; one in Copenhagen and the other in Addis Abeba.
The first meeting was held in April 2008 and the commission identified the three challenges. Its second meeting, which focused on creating new and better jobs for Africa's youth, was conducted last week in the metropolis, at Sheraton Addis.
"We have not set specific targets as far as job creation is concerned," the Danish PM told the media after the meeting at Sheraton. "But we know that according to current figures, around eight million jobs are created annually in Africa."
According to him, the commission also knows that if it is to ensure full employment among youngsters in Africa in the coming years it should increase the number of newly created jobs to around 10 to 15 million.
The young (between five and 25 years) constitute 46pc of Africa's total population and this percentage is still increasing fast. The commission's report shows that youth unemployment is already very high on the continent, estimated at 20pc and three times that of adults.
"The aim of the international community should be to ensure full employment among people in Africa," Rasmussen said.
To achieve this ambitious plan, the commission suggested transforming young Africans from being job seekers to job creators. It also proposed stepping up vocational training to train apprentices based on private sector needs.
"Private sector development takes the lead in promoting growth on the continent," current Chairperson of the African Union and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete told the media. "The commission will take a new approach. We want to keep a narrow and concrete focus by developing a limited number of initiatives, and most importantly by ensuring implementation of those initiatives."
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