ECA Head to discuss job creation at Kigali AfDB gathering

Kigali, 19 May 2014: The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr. Carlos Lopes will attend the 2014 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Kigali, Rwanda from 19-23 May 2014.

The meeting will attract participants from 77 African and non-African countries, including Heads of states, academics, Ministers, central bank governors, civil society organisations and the media. Mr. Lopes is expected to participate at a high level panel to take place on the topic: "WHERE ARE THE JOBS?". He will discuss issues pertaining to the employment challenge in Africa, alongside President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal and other high level officials.

According to Mr. Lopes, approximately 54% of Africa's youth is currently unemployed and more than three-quarters is considered poor. In many African countries, the informal economy is the largest provider of jobs for youth. For instance, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 96.2 % of young workers are claimed to be informally employed; in Cameroon the percentage would be 88.6 and in Zambia, it is said that no less than 99 % of working teenagers work in the informal economy.

In Africa, the tendency is that youth unemployment tends to increase with higher education levels. For more information about Mr. Lopes and his work, please check the links below: