DECEMBER News /

YES And UNIDO Explore Ways to Promote Youth Employment through Renewable Energy Technologies

The UN Industrial Development Agency (UNIDO) recently sponsored two Expert Group Meetings (EGMs) in collaboration with the YES Campaign on the development and promotion of youth entrepreneurs through renewable energy technologies.  Both meetings, one in Nairobi, Kenya, and the other in Cuernavaca, Mexico, brought together key regional actors to discuss possibilities for engaging youth in entrepreneurial activities either through the use of in the renewable energy technologies or in the sector itself. 

The EGM for East Africa focused on promoting youth entrepreneurship in renewable energy and agro-industries.  YES Country Network Coordinators from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda attended the event.  The EGM was supported by the ILO, UNECA and UN HABITAT.  A background paper was prepared for the EGM detailing the challenges, opportunities and constraints relating to youth entrepreneurship in the two sectors.  The EGM participants clearly identified various ways in which youth entrepreneurship models could be developed together with the targeted technical assistance and capacity building required.  The EGM participants also had the opportunity to visit the UNIDO-supported Training and Production Centre for Shoe Industry (TPCSI) in Thika.  Participants learned about the different sections of work related to shoe production.  The visit to the Center gave the participants a clear picture of how entrepreneurship can be linked to production.  The EGM concluded with resounding support from all the YES Country Networks in the East Africa region towards the proposed UNIDO Regional Program on Youth Entrepreneurship.  The UNIDO staff will be preparing the project documentation and promised to consult with the YES in the development of the Regional Program.

The Central America and the Caribbean EGM was thematically centered much like that of Eastern Africa.  Fundacion E, a Mexican NGO that houses the local YES Network, organized the event in collaboration with the UNIDO office in Mexico.   YES Network Coordinators and their stakeholders from the renewable energy sector came from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominica Republic to participate in the event.  Much like in Kenya, the group explored the possibilities for youth entrepreneurship in renewable energy and agro-industries and discussed ideas for regional projects in these areas.  As a result of the EGM, UNIDO pledged its commitment to a Mexican youth entrepreneurship project in renewable energy, which will build upon those already carried out with the YES Campaign in India and Zambia.  Additionally, YES and UNIDO are committed to exploring the possibilities for a regional program in Latin America to promote youth entrepreneurship through renewable energy technologies.

The UNIDO collaboration with the YES Campaign on these meetings and the projects that will follow is a critical step forward in demonstrating the potential of the renewable energy sector to provide viable income generating opportunities for young people.