Tweet

Wanted: jobs for Africa’s youth - Diversification

Guest post by: Africa Renewal

Article Overview: The Youth Employment Network, an alliance of countries initiated by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in collaboration with the heads of the ILO and World Bank, recommends that governments diversify their economies and promote sectors that use a lot of workers. Many African economies still rely on the production of one or two primary commodities. They could diversify into processing these commodities or producing light manufactures, as Mauritius has successfully done.

Wanted: jobs for Africa’s youth - Diversification

From Africa Renewal, Vol.20 #3 (October 2006), page 6

By Gumisai Mutume

The Youth Employment Network, an alliance of countries initiated by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in collaboration with the heads of the ILO and World Bank, recommends that governments diversify their economies and promote sectors that use a lot of workers. Many African economies still rely on the production of one or two primary commodities. They could diversify into processing these commodities or producing light manufactures, as Mauritius has successfully done.

Over two decades, Mauritius has averaged 6 per cent annual economic growth, resulting in a fourfold increase in per capita income and virtually eliminating unemployment. The government attracted investors to the country’s principal exports, sugar and garments. It also furthered diversification by promoting export processing zones (EPZs), which featured incentives for investors but also allowed workers to form and join unions (unlike in the EPZs of some other countries).

Between 1983 and 1986, employment in Mauritius’s EPZs tripled and by 1985 the EPZ sector had overtaken sugar as the prime source of exports, foreign exchange earnings and employment. Today Mauritius is no longer able to compete so effectively with other textile producers, such as China. So it is restructuring its economy, moving into other sectors such as financial services, light engineering goods, precision plastics and computer products.

Related Articles
  4.0 Diversification trends in Africa: Economic Report on Africa 2007
  5.0 Diversification and Growth: Economic Report on Africa 2007
  5.1 It is not just a matter of policy as institutions matter in diversification efforts: Economic Report on Africa 2007
  4.3 Conclusion: Economic Report on Africa 2007
  5.2 Growth, productivity and diversification: Economic Report on Africa 2007

Article Tags: African economies, Gumisai Mutume, Mauritius, primary commodities, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, World Bank, Youth Employment Network



Related Forum Posts
Re: Franchiser Bankruptcies: 3 Tips on Being Prepared - Diversification is essential to a successful portfolio. I think it is essential in all sectors and industries. Franchising is no different. Excellent points on preparation! All entrepreneurs should use these 3 guiding principles for every aspect of their business career.
Re: Should Evan add a "Social Media Marketing" category to the f - Wanted to add my own vote, but the voting button was missing
Re: Need some information on freelance jobs! - oDesk is the same as Elance where you can bid on projects/jobs that are posted. When I was working in oDesk the main problem I experienced was the difficulty in getting my first job because of competition. There are already other service providers who already have a lot of completed jobs and good ratings with good feedback. So what I did was to bid on simple jobs - I bid a very low price so that I could just get a job and hopefully when I done it right or done it well I can have a good rating and feedback. That's how I began. I slowly build my reputation by completing simple jobs and eventually I can then compete with others and can bid high already.
Online Teen Magazine... Tips - I am planning to start an online teen magazine and of course bootstrapping will be my choice of funding. I am searching internet for some help as I am having a hard time on deciding what to surround the topic about. I know I wanted to start a online magazine for youth entrepreneurs but I am not sure though as it seems like the idea will be bland and boring. So I've been trying to plan another way out for coming up with a topic that will interest teen's, but will also give them some knowledge in saving their money and the business world. I am not necessarily looking to start entirely a "Teen" magazine but you should get what path I am on. My question is, what kind of online magazine should I start and how can I diversify the topic's to make it interesting to teen's but also give them entrepreneurship knowledge. I was thinking of a youth entrepreneur magazine but I am not sure right now though.
Re: Need some information on freelance jobs! - Hi, firstly let me confess the idea of online jobs and business alike are new to me. I had some of my own business plans but am not confident in launching the same owing to the crashing economy. Now as I see you people are talking about the freelance jobs, I wanted to know some more things about these in details. For people like us who are business minded and do not want to be working as subordinates the difference between jobs and setting up an own business is always there. Provided I cant find the best opportunity to setup my business now as already said do you think the freelance jobs about which you are talking here can be considered as an alternative for the same. Maybe thinking about finances this is going to be a safer option but is the change acceptable. I hope I could make myself clear.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Tips for the Novice Traveler

What should your free giveaway be?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.