How the Global Goals can unleash the power of young people

The demographic dividend has become a rallying call around the world. It is increasingly recognized by national governments and the international community as a key pathway for countries to realize rapid economic growth and long-term sustainable development.

President Obama, in his recent address to the African Union, spotlighted how growing youthful populations, if trained, can help countries, regions and continents grow faster – “It’s a demographic edge and advantage”. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, identifies the demographic dividend as its biggest strength and an economic advantage and prioritizes the skills development of its large working-age population.

As sub-Saharan Africa outlines its vision towards an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa by 2063, many of its leaders are focused on empowering a healthy, educated and skilled population so it can reap the greatest economic and social gains of the dividend. Estimates show a potential to add up to $500 billion per year to its economies for as many as 30 years – the equivalent of one-third of Africa’s GDP.

Executive Chairman of Google Eric Schmidt reinforces this message in his statement that “the demographic dividend in Africa of young people is their greatest hope”.

World leaders will convene at the United Nations to formally adopt a new global agenda to end poverty, promote prosperity and people’s well-being while protecting the environment by 2030 – and for the first time ever in UN history, a political declaration specifically calls on world leaders to invest in the full realization of the rights and capabilities of children and young people.

As we move towards a new universal, transformative and integrated agenda, it is so important that the world community recognizes the role that young people can play in solving major challenges of development. Indeed, the window is now open for many young economies of Africa and Asia to accelerate economic growth as large cohorts of young people enter working age, and represent a large proportion of working age people, with lower fertility and fewer dependents.

Yet this hope and optimism must be tempered by the sober reality that young people need tangible investments to transform the economy, and the world is failing far too many young people, especially – but not only – in developing countries.

A look at key population data across sectors gives a glimpse of just how far off we are in meeting the rights and needs of young people. Starting with health – the frailties of health systems puts the well-being and stability of future generations at risk. For otherwise healthy young people the greatest need is often for sexual and reproductive health care, and the preventive services needed to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, an STD such as HIV, or delivering a pregnancy without medical care. Even healthy early childbearing removes young women from school, and limits their lifetime earnings. In high fertility countries, lack of access to family planning and health services is pushing off – by decades – the decline in fertility that enables a demographic dividend. And without educated women in the labour force, prospects for accelerating economic growth will not be fulfilled.

Consider education outcomes – while indeed there have been significant gains in primary school enrolment globally, inequalities in educational achievements between developed countries persist, leading to important debates about the relative merits of online courses, investments-per-student, and classroom culture. Yet fewer than one-third of girls are even enrolled in secondary school in West and Central Africa.

And as we talk about the returns young workers can bring to the economy, young workers have seen the weakest restoration of jobs since the economic downturn of 2008. And in many countries looking towards a demographic dividend, informal and vulnerable employment remains as high as 70%, and especially high for young people. Interviews with young migrants into Europe in the past month have detailed the desperate economic conditions for many young people in areas of conflict and underdevelopment, and the risks young people are prepared to undertake for better opportunities.

To reap the social and economic benefit of the dividend, we need to confront the challenges before us and national governments need to ensure timely public policies and investments are in place – particularly ones that empower, educate and employ the rapidly growing and young working-age populations. Depending on the gaps and needs within individual countries, key investments may address sexual and reproductive rights, access to family planning, better health systems and quality education, on-the-job mentoring and a welcoming climate for business.

But the silver lining is that a growing number of governments and the international community recognize the potential a demographic dividend can provide – what it can do for the bottom line and the bottom billion – and are increasingly ready to act on the basis of that optimism.

This agenda offers a unifying framework for all stakeholders to advance multiple agendas, and for integrating mutually reinforcing policies, investments and programmes. It’s a key pathway for countries to realize rapid economic growth and long-term sustainable development. And the UN Summit offers an opportunity platform for the international community to commit with national governments to accelerate the dividend and empower our world’s young people so they can create the world they want to live in.

Have you read?
How achievable are the Sustainable Development Goals?
How can we eradicate poverty by 2030?
How can Africa achieve growth for all its people?

Author: Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Under Secretary General of the United Nations; Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Demographic Dividend, World Economic Forum

Image: Students attend class at the Technical College of Bangui March 12, 2014. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola