Policy-makers, NGO representatives and private sector leaders from over 30 countries will gather in Amman, Jordan, from April 28 to 30 to share solutions and form partnerships to address the challenge of youth unemployment in the Arab world.
Organised by Doha-based regional social initiative Silatech and hosted by the International Youth Foundation (IYF), the “Arab Youth Employment: Promoting Innovative Solutions to Longstanding Challenges” conference will showcase innovative, evidence-based approaches to youth employment that are being implemented by leading youth-serving organisations from throughout the region and the world.
The conference is being sponsored by the World Bank and Americana Group. It is also being supported by the Jordan Chamber of Industry.
While youth unemployment is a global challenge, the need for scalable, effective youth employment programmes is particularly urgent in the Arab world, as youth unemployment in the Arab countries is the highest for any region in the world and continues to grow. The jobless rate among Arab youth has increased from 24% in 2009 to 29% in 2014, while entrepreneurship has declined over the same period.
During the conference, participants will share lessons and experiences about a wide variety of topics related to youth employment. The conference will give special attention to the process of creating successful youth employment policies and initiatives and creating opportunities for practitioners to replicate and grow effective programmes throughout the region.
Acting Silatech CEO Mohamed al-Naimi and IYF CEO William S Reese will open the conference with welcoming remarks on April 28.
High-profile policy-makers slated to address the event will include Dr Nidale Katamine, Minister of Labour (Jordan), Adel Fakeih, Minister of Labour (Saudi Arabia), and Dr Talal Abu Ghazaleh, founder and chair of the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organisation (Jordan). Other policy-makers from Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine and Saudi Arabia will be participating in the conference as well.
Leading organisations represented at the conference will include the World Bank, International Labour Organisation, Oasis 500 (Jordan), Tamweelcom (Jordan), Mowgli (United Kingdom), Save the Children, United Nations Development Programme, Beyond Reform and Development (Lebanon), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (United States), Ahead of the Curve (Egypt), Tawasul (Oman), Rwaq (Saudi Arabia), the RAND Corporation (US), Al Amal Microfinance Bank (Yemen), Ruwwad (Jordan), the Jordan Federation of Tourism Associations, Bayt.com, Injaz Jordan, MicroCred (Tunisia), World Learning, the Egyptian National Competitiveness Council, Silicon Baadia, IHEC Carthage (Tunisia) and GIZ (Germany). Conference registration is open now. For more information, visit www.aye2015.org
