Nestlé and its regional partners have joined forces to launch the Regional Alliance for Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa to promote employability for young people.
The alliance, which will focus on creating and implementing employability programmes, mentorship and training initiatives designed to equip young people with essential workplace skills, is part of the company’s business-driven movement Alliance for YOUth.
“We believe that investing in youth is vital for thriving, resilient communities, and helps to build our business too,” said Rémy Ejel, Market Head for Nestlé Central and West Africa.
“Young people are the next generation of employees who will keep our company competitive, the farmers who will grow the crops we need, and the entrepreneurs who will help us reach new markets, regardless of their field or level of expertise. This is just the beginning.”
The Regional Alliance for Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa
The alliance has been launched in Ivory Coast, Angola and South Africa.
“Nearly 77% of the Ivorian population is aged under 35, which means that concrete actions must be taken to provide more opportunities and help to integrate these young people into the workplace,” said Zain Reddiar, General Manager for Human Resources at MTN in Ivory Coast.
“At MTN, we are ready to effectively contribute to
this project, which we are sure will help a large part of that population.”
Similarly in Angola, the alliance was launched in partnership with the
Government of Angola, the Swiss Embassy, ADPP, Nestlé and other private
companies from different sectors operating in Angola.
“The future can only be built with the next generation, the next sustainable
competitive edge, especially on diversifying economies will have to rely on the
youth,” said Sérgio Filipe, Siemens Angola CEO.
“Young people will be better prepared than ever before for the next challenges, supporting the digital changes of the society we are living in, which at the end of the day will benefit all the stakeholders of the sub-Saharan region.
“Shaping the young people within our working context, in an inclusive environment, creating new capabilities, allowing within our domain to further develop technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Smart Data, as many others, shall support the youth to create the world of tomorrow that they will be in.
“We from our side will support the next generation on this journey, creating the basis for tomorrows challenges.”
Promoting employability
The alliance will combine the efforts of partner companies on hiring, skilling up and training young people by targeting tier three and four universities and vocational schools in and outside of capital cities.
These will be achieved through CV and interview skills-building workshops, identifying career opportunities and accessibility, and offering career-counselling sessions – reaching about 1,000 youths in Angola by 2020, and 5,000 youths in Ivory Coast by the same period.
As part of the alliance, a flagship initiative will be identified and be jointly owned and implemented by members.
