LIBRARY RESOURCE

This fact sheet was done as part of a series of fact sheets to support the International Year of Youth. It gives an overview of the state of youth in Africa, including education, employment, health, and participation in decisionmaking processes. It also includes a summary of the UN approach to youth in the region, as well as national efforts to create youth policies.

This fact sheet was done as part of a series of fact sheets to support the International Year of Youth. It gives an overview of the state of youth in the Arab region, including education, employment, health, and participation in decision-making processes. It also includes a summary of the UN approach to youth in the region, as well as national efforts to create youth policies.

On April 12, 2010, the UNESCO Executive Board endorsed this 5-year strategy that will guide UNESCOs work on youth development and civic engagement in Africa until 2013. The strategy was developed in close collaboration with Member States, the African Union Commission, and young people.

Overcoming the related challenges of child labour and the lack of decent work opportunities for youth will be critical to Rwanda’s progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. The effects of child labour and poor youth employment outcomes are well-documented: both can lead to social vulnerability and societal marginalisation, and both can permanently impair productive potential and therefore influence lifetime patterns of employment and pay.