Gender and Youth Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Constraints and Effective Interventions

Abstract

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.

Youth agripreneurship in the horticultural value‐chain: The case of small‐scale mango farmers in Southern Ghana

“…In Ghana, agriculture is a predominant activity that makes a significant contribution to the economy in terms of its contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) which stands at 18% (Ghana Statistical Service, 2018), foreign exchange earnings, food security, social reconstruction, and reduction of youth (15–35 years) unemployment (Kidido et al, 2016). Moreover, while the extractive industries—Ghana's fastest growing sector—employs only a small fraction of unskilled labor, the agricultural sector is the highest employer of unskilled labor and a source of livelihood for about 70% of the rural population and the poorest households in Ghana (Chakravarty et al, 2017).…”

How Large Is the Gender Dividend? Measuring Selected Impacts and Costs of Gender Inequality

“…(2) Targeted interventions must be implemented to reach vulnerable girls; and (3) Efforts must be undertaken to change gender-based social norms and gender-based laws, which affect all women but especially adolescent girls (for a review of constraints and promising interventions with a focus on Africa, see also Chakravarty et al, 2017).…”

Realizing Demographic Dividends in the Republic of Congo

“…The demographic transition ensures the labor supply side of growth, but labor demand is needed to turn the demographic transition into a demographic dividend. As discussed in Chakravarty et al (2017), the expansion of young women's labor market opportunities can affect fertility and family formation, through at least three channels. First, the ability to contribute economically expands the role of women in the household and society and can alleviate social and familial pressure for early marriage and fertility.…”

“…In contrast, among individuals with secondary education who are employed, 53.2 percent are males, and among individuals with tertiary education who are employed, 71.3 percent are males. These patterns are the outcome of the dynamic interaction of the endowments, budget constraints, and preferences of men and women with the social norms and institutions that govern the roles of men and women in the household, the economy and society (Chakravarty, Das, & Vaillant, 2017). These complex interactions, for example, affect the decision of a woman whether to drop out of secondary school or not, or whether to marry early and they also influence the preferences and decisions of employers about hiring male rather than female workers even if men and women have the same level of education or experience.…”