Women in Pakistan are traditionally responsible for providing for their families, often with meagre resources. They are “invisible” actors when it comes to economic activity, existing outside of the formal economy in what is a predominantly patriarchal society – particularly in rural areas, where many women are confined to their homes. Studies have shown that…
To mark “Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day” on 27 June, Palladium’s Bethany O’Connor shares the stories of Lebanese entrepreneurs keeping their businesses alive during the coronavirus pandemic. Khouloud Hanna is a fitness trainer and owner of a small gym in a West Bakaa village. Like many proprietors, she closed her business due to COVID-19…
In Nigeria, 55% of the youth population is either underemployed or unemployed, in large part due to a mismatch between the job market and the skills youth are trained in. Practical, digital, and entrepreneurial skills that would better prepare youth for future (self-)employment are all lacking in the current education system. In fact, Nigerian graduates…
Youth make up one quarter of the total global working population, yet 20% of youth across the world are neither employed nor undertaking education and training. Prior to the current pandemic, young people were already facing a challenging transition into the labour market as they were three times more likely than adults to be unemployed.…
There is no scarcity of initiatives to address youth unemployment in Uganda. In recent years, well-intentioned donors have established programs in the country aimed at putting young people to work. At the same time, the Ugandan Government has set out several strategic plans and initiatives to tackle the issue. This level of donor and domestic…
