Youth Voices Hub: Bridging the Gap between National Policies and Lived Realities

This project will establish a grassroots hub for youth-led action research on employment and skills development policies.  Research will be conducted through focus groups, surveys, and workshops.  The output will be an actionable report including infographics, policy brief highlighting community realities versus national policies, advocacy events, and peer mentoring clubs to reduce the isolation often felt by unemployed or underemployed youth.

In Ethiopia, urban unemployment for ages 15-29 stands at approximately 27%, with even higher rates for young women.  The problem is characterized by skills mismatch, limited job creation, and long unemployment spells.  The main beneficiaries are 18-35-year-old youth in urban Addis Ababa and surrounding areas, unemployed and underemployed youth seeking skills development, policy influence, and peer support.