The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has called for urgent and coordinated action to transform informal employment into sustainable livelihoods for millions of young people across Africa.
The call was made during a side event organised by the ECA through its Offices for Eastern and Central Africa on the sidelines of the 2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York.
The event, themed “From Informal Work to Sustainable Livelihoods: Youth Pathways in Fragile Cities in Africa,” brought together policymakers, development partners, academics, youth representatives and United Nations agencies to examine practical strategies for addressing youth unemployment and expanding economic opportunities on the continent.
Discussions centred on tackling skills gaps, improving access to finance, promoting entrepreneurship, advancing inclusive urban development and strengthening partnerships to create sustainable employment opportunities for young Africans.
Opening the event, ECA Executive Secretary, Mr Claver Gatete, stressed the need for African countries to harmonise education systems, professional qualifications and skills certification to facilitate labour mobility across the continent.
He said aligning qualifications would enable young people to access employment opportunities beyond their national borders while supporting Africa’s broader integration agenda.
Participants also identified limited access to finance as one of the major constraints facing young entrepreneurs, noting that inadequate credit and investment continue to hinder business creation, expansion and formalisation.
They emphasised the importance of strengthening financial inclusion, entrepreneurship support programmes and business development services to help young people build sustainable enterprises and contribute more effectively to economic growth.
The forum further examined the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies on Africa’s labour market.
Participants observed that while AI offers significant opportunities to improve productivity, innovation and economic competitiveness, it also presents new challenges for employment, particularly for Africa’s rapidly growing youth population.
They stressed the need to equip young people with relevant digital and technical skills to enable them to benefit from technological transformation rather than be displaced by it.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of investing in youth as drivers of innovation, resilience and economic development, rather than viewing them solely as beneficiaries of government and development interventions.
Participants called for stronger efforts to ensure that Africa’s rapid urbanisation translates into inclusive and sustainable growth, particularly in fragile and crisis-affected cities where unemployment, displacement and climate-related challenges continue to place pressure on livelihoods.
They advocated expanded support for youth-led enterprises, increased investment in decent jobs and improved access to economic opportunities capable of delivering long-term social and economic benefits.
The event attracted broad participation from government officials, international organisations, civil society groups, academia and young people, reflecting growing global interest in policies that promote employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods for Africa’s expanding youth population.
