South Sudan, UNESCO launch skills upgrade roadmap for youth

JUBA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's ministry of labour in partnership with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday unveiled a three-year vocational training and skills development roadmap for the youth to boost their employability and ability to become self-reliant.

Baba Madan Konyi, deputy minister for labor, public service and human resources development, said the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) roadmap will help the government address skills gap that is to blame for high youth unemployment.

"It has been long overdue for the government to have this strategy to fight high rate of youth unemployment across the country. This will now enable our youth to grab opportunities in the labor market," said Konyi.

He thanked UNESCO and other partners for boosting livelihoods of young people in the world's youngest nation that is reeling from the negative effects of long-drawn conflicts.

Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO's representative to South Sudan, said human capital development requires evidence-based planning and it is through developing skills that a solution to youth unemployment will be found.

"Technical and vocational educational and training and productive economic engagement in the labor market requires alignment of supply and demand, if not, unemployment will continue to increase and the inefficient use of investments in the skills development sector," said Alam.

Speaking during the launching of the labor market assessment and review in Juba, Alam said young people in South Sudan will now have the opportunity to maximize their potential and support their families, communities and the country.

Rehana Zawar, country director and empower project representative at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), said the technical training approach is a collaborative effort made by the government together with local and international organizations in an effort to tackle poverty and high unemployment in the country.

"This will improve their access training and employment opportunities with local businesses. For youth to start their own businesses, as well as for existing businesses to grow, they need improved access to financial capital alongside business training and mentoring," Zawar said.

Since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan seven years ago, youth unemployment has been on the rise amid conflicts that have resulted into a dire economic hardship.

It is estimated that 70 percent of South Sudan's population including the youth has grappled with high levels of unemployment that has worsened their vulnerability to social ills.