Document
Skills and youth entrepreneurship in Africa: Analysis with evidence from Swaziland
Publication Date: 20 Mar 2015
Source: Other sources
The shortages of entrepreneurial skills have lowered search effectiveness of potential young entrepreneurs and the rate of youth start-ups. This paper contributes to closing a gap in the entrepreneurship and development literature with a model of costly firm creation and skill differences between young and adult entrepreneurs. The model shows that for young entrepreneurs facing high cost of searching for business opportunities, support for training is more effective in stimulating productive start-ups than subsidies. Further, the case for interventions targeted at youth rises in societies with high cost of youth unemployment. We test the role of skills and training for productive youth entrepreneurship on data from a recent survey of entrepreneurs in Swaziland.
Document
Comparative analysis of national skills development policies: A guide for policy makers
Publication Date: 29 Aug 2013
Source: ILO
The paper presents a comparative analysis of national skills development policies of 12 countries from Africa, Asia and the Pacific. These countries represent a mix of developed, developing and the least developed countries.The analysis covers issues such as: core challenge or motivation for developing national skills development policy; socio- economic context and problem analysis; vision, mission and policy objectives; policy areas and policy statements. The objective of the study is to strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders on international labour standards as well as on policies and experiences of other countries in the area of skills development. The paper is also intended to encourage the exchange of ideas and to stimulate debate and enable policy makers in developing effective, relevant and equitable skills development policies suitable for their country’s context.
Document
The education system in Swaziland: Training and skills development for shared growth and competitiveness
Publication Date: 07 May 2013
Source: International organizations
The report evaluates the adequacy of the education, training and skills development sector of Swaziland in light of the enhanced educational goals for the country to effectively contribute toward achieving national development goals. The study covers all levels from early child care and development to technical and vocational education and higher school level. It includes cost and financing issues as well as points key sector weaknesses and makes recommendations for their redress.
Document
Education, employment and barriers for young people with disabilities in southern Africa
Publication Date: 06 Nov 2012
Source: International organizations
This background paper draws from recent and unique research on living conditions among people with and without disabilities in southern Africa. It confirms that disabled youth are far from experiencing equity in education and opportunities in the labor market. The study concludes that understanding the distinction between the general problems in the education system in poor countries on one side, and the particular problems facing disabled youth on the other is critical to improving this situation. Without targeting disabled youth particularly to increase access and improve achievement, there is clearly a danger that broad programs for improving the educational system will fail if disabled youth, a large and most neglected minority group, are not included both through general and specific measures. The study also reveals some of the complexities involved in the relationship between disability, education and participation in society through meaningful employment. In order to achieve the intentions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities it is, however, necessary that interventions into the education system to improve the quality and the relevance go hand-in-hand with research that can generate further knowledge on barriers and facilitators for disabled youth to participate fully.