2016年-世界发展银行全球_Ghana_Youth_Employment_Program_Inventory_42页_1mb

Ghana Youth Employment Program Inventory Summary

Core Content

This report presents an inventory of 40 youth employment programs in Ghana, focusing on their components, scale, cost, and effectiveness. The study was conducted by Francis Babongte Avura and Ato Ulzen-Appiah for the World Bank, with support from the Programme for Sustainable Economic Development (PSED) in Ghana, implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ. The goal is to provide evidence to inform public policy and private sector initiatives in addressing youth unemployment and underemployment in Ghana.

Main Components of Youth Employment Programs

The following six categories define the key components of youth employment programs in Ghana:

1. Skills Development and Training

   • Includes both class-based and on-the-job training.
   • Focuses on vocational and technical skills.
   • Leads to certification and validation.
   • Examples: National Vocational Training Institute, Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute.

2. Entrepreneurship Training

   • Builds business knowledge, practices, and skills.
   • Often includes both hard and soft skills.
   • May involve start-up financing, incubation, advisory services, and mentorship.
   • Examples: Youth Enterprise Support (YES), Meltwater Incubator Program, ENGINE.

3. Youth Employment Services

   • Provides labor market information and counseling.
   • Includes guidance on job search, CV writing, and interview techniques.
   • Supports youth in identifying suitable job opportunities.

4. Direct Employment

   • Involves the direct hiring of youth, typically in the public sector.
   • Examples: Youth Employment Agency (YEA), which directly employs 100,000 youth.

5. Apprenticeship

   • A structured system where youth are trained in a specific trade by a master craftsman.
   • Often includes a subsistence allowance.
   • Some programs pair apprentices with prescreened mentors.
   • Traditional apprenticeships are common in the informal sector.

6. Others

   • Captures residual components not covered by the above categories.
   • Examples: Internship programs by YEA, placement programs in government MDAs.

Key Findings

• Public Sector Dominance: 18 of the 40 programs are in the public sector, implemented by government MDAs.
• Private Sector Contribution: 22 programs are in the private sector, including corporate entities, NGOs, and CSOs.
• Program Scale: The largest program is the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), which directly employs 100,000 youth out of 1 million applicants.
• Cost Variability:
  • Public sector programs: GHC100–GHC60,000 per participant.
  • Private sector programs: GHC100–GHC500,000 per participant.
  • Average cost per participant: GHC3,475 for public programs vs. GHC35,090 for private programs.
• Funding Sources:
  • Public programs are mainly government-funded.
  • Private programs are often supported by corporations, NGOs, and development partners.
  • Some programs are public-private partnerships, such as GEBSS.
• Program Duration:
  • More than half of public sector programs last three or more years.
  • Many private programs offer year-round support.
• Program Coverage:
  • Public sector programs have broader geographical reach.
  • Private sector programs often target specific sectors or groups.
  • There is a significant gap between the number of applicants and the number of enrolled participants, especially in public programs.
  • The take-up rate for private programs is higher (58%) compared to public programs (21%).

Program Effectiveness and Challenges

• Skills Mismatch: Many youth lack the necessary hard and soft skills to secure decent employment.
• Barriers to Employment: Youth face higher barriers due to limited access to finance, land, and social networks.
• Low Participation Rate: Only a small fraction of youth (less than 4%) are covered by the programs inventoried.
• Lack of Coordination: There is minimal coordination between programs, even within the same MDA.
• Cost and Accessibility: Private programs are more expensive and less accessible due to high fees, while public programs are more affordable but often have lower take-up rates.
• Need for Systematic Data: There is a lack of systematic data on program effectiveness and scalability.
• Program Diversity: Programs vary in focus, from direct employment to skills training and entrepreneurship.

Conclusion

The Ghana Youth Employment Inventory highlights the diverse range of initiatives aimed at addressing youth unemployment and underemployment. While public programs are more extensive and affordable, private programs offer more specialized and intensive training. The report underscores the need for better coordination, data collection, and evidence-based policy decisions to improve the effectiveness of youth employment programs.