Innovative strategies for dealing with youth unemployment

Abstract

Africa has been in severe economic and social crisis since the 1980s. In particular, the I980s is remembered as "the lost decade" in the economic field. Economic indicators demonstrate that the region suffered enormous economic blows during this period. The root causes of these crises include the absence of popular participation in decision-making, economic mismanagement by the governments of Africa, unproductive use of resources, urban-biased development programmes and capital flight outside the continent. The development challenge facing African countries has two facets: (i) the search for renewed economic growth and (ii) the transition of economic growth into increased employment opportunities.