Dissemination Webinar – From ‘Waithood to Hustling’: Africa’s Youth Quest for Dignified and Fulfilling Work

Africa’s demographic landscape is marked by a youthful majority, with nearly 70% of its population below the age of 30. However, this burgeoning demographic faces significant challenges, including unemployment, underemployment, and social marginalization. The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation have embarked on a groundbreaking multi-country research and uptake project across seven African nations. This initiative seeks to explore the aspirations and resilience of Africa’s youth, and their perspectives on dignified and fulfilling work.

Insights show that youth aspirations are diverse and multidimensional in nature, ranging from stable jobs to financial security and family support. Equally, dignified and fulfilling work is one that provides good pay, reputable and respectable, offers a sense of purpose, and provides workplace safety. In an environment characterized by widespread informality and limited opportunities, Africa’s youth have embraced ‘hustling’ as a means of survival. They have also demonstrated resilience through innovative strategies such as maximizing savings, seeking additional education or training, and relying on support from their social networks.

PASGR is set to release its synthesis report based on the initial phase of analysis, in a dissemination webinar on October 26, 2023, from 3:30pm to 5:00pm (EAT). The webinar aims to not only present the findings but also to stimulate knowledge sharing and uptake. It will provide crucial insights for policymakers, researchers, development professionals, and youth advocates, encouraging them to delve deeper into the implications of these findings for research, programming, and youth engagement. This initiative aligns with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy, which strives to empower 30 million young women and men in Africa with dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.

Registration for the dissemination webinar is ongoing here.