Rural youth employment
This report (PDF) by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank Group was prepared as an input to discussions on rural youth employment in the G20 Development Working Group. This focus on rural youth employment is essential, since youth are more likely than adults to be unemployed and a large share of youth live in rural areas. The need to feed a growing population and shifting consumption patterns offers prospects for income gains and jobs in both farming and the broader food system as economies transform. The ‘youth bulge’ is an opportunity for countries to reap a demographic dividend. However, actions on both the demand and supply side are needed to increase jobs for youth in rural areas. General demand side actions include, among others, actions to invest in complementary infrastructure; raise agricultural productivity growth and climate resilience to stimulate demand for non-farm goods and services; and promote high value agriculture and value addition while protecting healthy diets. Specific supply side actions include actions to facilitate youth skills development and matching rural youth to jobs, facilitate rural youth access to land and affordable finance. Priorities vary by country context reflecting the variance in binding constraints across countries. Prioritization should be guided by consideration of the number of young people reached, urgency in particular areas, and potential effects on livelihoods of young people.