THE CHALLENGE
People under the age of 24 represent more than half the population in Asia and the Near East. They are the next generation of employees, entrepreneurs, policy makers and community leaders, yet many are ill-prepared to enter the workforce. They have had few opportunities for a good education or to learn needed job skills. Nor have schools and businesses traditionally worked together to help the region’s youth make the jump from the classroom to the office or factory. As a result, young people in Asia and the Near East today face some of the highest unemployment rates in the world. In the Middle East and North Africa, unemployment among youth is almost 26%. In South Asia, 16% of youth are unemployed. Businesses interested in operating in the region cannot overlook these challenges.

THE RESPONSE
The Education and Employment Alliance (EEA) works in six countries with high youth unemployment rates—Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan and the Philippines—to develop and expand quality education, job training and placement programs. The program is funded through a three-year $10 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development and $8 million to be leveraged from the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and its partners. IYF hosts the Alliance’s Global Secretariat and coordinates all Alliance activities.

For more information visit the EEA webiste at www.eeaonline.org