ECOSOC Youth Forum - Intervention for the ILO-hosted lunch

 

 

ECOSOC Youth Forum - Intervention for the ILO-hosted lunch

High-level event marking 10th Anniversary of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

Statement by FAO LON Director Carla Mucavi

1 February 2016, New York

 

I would like to thank the ECOSOC President H.E. Mr. Oh Joon and the Director-General of the ILO for associating FAO with this lunch.  

 

The success of the Global Decent Jobs for Youth Initiative depends on how we fare in rural areas of developing countries. This is where over half of the world´s youth live. And this is where most of the world´s poor and food insecure population lives.

 

Up to 70 percent of the youth for example in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia live in rural areas, and over half of those in the labour force engage in agriculture. Moreover, an estimated 93 percent of the jobs available to young people in developing countries are in the informal economy, where earnings are low, working conditions are unsafe, and there is little or no social protection.

 

Agriculture, as a sector, can provide solutions to youth’s food and nutrition security, unemployment, underemployment, and is increasingly seen as offering a potential bright future for young people if concrete opportunities are generated.

 

FAO is placing lots of effort in supporting member states in strengthening their capacity to develop a strong enabling environment, in which young people can thrive and seize decent rural employment opportunities. Historically, we have given support to rural livelihoods and institutions. FAO’s effort to mainstream full employment and decent work into our work programme has been acknowledged by the specific evaluation done by the Joint Inspection Unit.

 

Our experience shows us two things.

 

First, that with the right support adapted to local needs and realities, we can succeed in helping the youth reach their potential.

 

And, second, FAO or any other actor cannot do this alone. Success requires partnership. FAO places also special attention in strengthening its collaboration with key partners, including other UN agencies, regional organizations, civil society organizations, private sector, academia etc. Such partnerships are critical elements in addressing the issues of youth unemployment and ending hunger and malnutrition.

 

It is for this reason that we are a long-standing member of the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD); that we are committed to working with local communities and the global community to deliver on the 2030 Agenda; and that we are ready to contribute to the implementation of the Decent Jobs for Youth Initiative.