The number of economically disenfranchised youth in the developing world is staggering. This situation is a tremendous waste of talent and a potential threat to social stability.

• Young people (age 15-24) in the developing world – approximately 15 percent of the world population – have limited access to infrastructure for education, job skills training, and self-employment opportunities
• Global youth population is expected to increase by 50 percent in the next 30 years while the number of unemployed youth is projected to quadruple
• Developing country labor markets are not equipped to put this population to work

As a result, it is critical to mobilize youth in developing effective employment strategies. First, such an approach will help promote international security, particularly given that many of the world’s most protracted conflicts, from the Middle East, Kashmir, and Sri Lanka to the Congo, Northern Island, and Columbia, are, at least in part, due to the misdirected energies and frustrations of unemployed youth. Second, this strategy is an effective means of strengthening the fabric of civil society so that youth can participate productively and become advocates for stronger social and political institutions. Third, youth-driven employment raises the living standards for future generations, particularly in societies where the family is the only safety net. Finally, countries can benefit from the new wave of civic participation and take advantage of the intellectual creativity of an engaged youth workforce.

The YES Campaign has targeted the youth population in more than 80 countries. Through our partnerships with youth, we have seen their drive to create meaningful employment opportunities for themselves and those in their communities. The missing piece is access to the right resources.

Since its launch in 2002, the YES Campaign has been addressing the global youth unemployment crisis through a multi-stakeholder model. YES supports youth-led country networks focused on empowering youth through capacity building programs and networking opportunities as well as by providing access to formal markets, resources, and donors. Over the last four years, the YES Campaign has focused on establishing the infrastructure and new ideas necessary to achieve UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In future, YES will strengthen existing partnerships and promote self-reliance to unleash widespread youth entrepreneurship. The launch of the YES Fund is critical to achieve this objective. Further, the YES Fund model is fully aligned with the YES Campaign’s effort to devise market-based solutions as a means of generating sustainable youth employment opportunities.