Research : Youth Enterprise and Livelihood Development in Conflict Settings
CHF International, Occasional Papers, Vol 2, December 2007 - The world's youth population has reached an all time high of over 1.5 billion, with 89 percent living in developing countries.1 As the ILO estimates 400 million new and decent jobs need to be created just to meet the potential of today's youth, and millions more youth are expected to enter the labor pool within the next 10 years, it is critical to address the increasing employment needs of young people today and over the long term (ILO 2006). While many youth leaders are making positive contributions to their communities, unemployed youth are increasingly the target of recruitment into gangs, drug and human trafficking, as well as armed conflicts. Limited economic, social and political opportunities are strong contributing factors driving youth to become involved in conflicts. By engaging youth productively intheir societies and in ways that strengthen their livelihood opportunities, development practitioners are playing a crucial role in reducing youths’ vulnerability to involvement in these activities, which are destructive to them and their communities.
- Author/Editor
- Whitney Harrelson, Fiona Macaulay, and Anita Campion Making Cents International
- Publishing Year
- 2007
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