In this episode, our host Kevin Eustatia Palm is joined by Sinead Magill, Co-CEO of the Palladium Group, and Dirk-Jan Koch, Director & Secretary of the Advisory Council of International Affairs of the Netherlands (AIV). Together, they explore the roles of development organizations and donor countries in fragile contexts, discussing the risks and opportunities in overcoming conflict and challenging the conventional definition of post-conflict period. The episode delves into the significance of post-conflict stabilisation programs, sustainable economic growth, and the role of private sector development in achieving lasting peace, highlighting the importance of implementing inclusive development agendas that prioritise the inclusion of local communities and young voices.

In today’s episode of the Future Economies Start with Youth podcast, Kevin invites CFYE Country Leads, Ola Farrag, Lina Al Khawaja, and Andrew Magunda to discuss how localisation is reshaping international development and empowering communities to drive their own progress.

We will hear about the importance of putting local voices and youth at the forefront, not only for creating relevant, impactful solutions, but for fostering resilience and long-term sustainability. In addition, Ola, Lina and Andrew will shine light to how CFYE’s tailored approach leverages local knowledge and partnerships to create lasting change for youth employment.

With 80 million African youths trapped in extreme poverty and a significant disparity between job seekers (10 to 12 million) and available opportunities (only 3 million), unemployment pressures are overwhelming. Various challenges exacerbate this situation, including skills gaps, gender disparities, and a heavy reliance on the informal economy, where work is often insecure and vulnerable. Faced with such large numbers of disenfranchised and unemployed youth, the need for scalable solutions becomes paramount. In this episode, host Kevin Eustatia and guests Ahmed Darwish, Adekemi Ajayi, Bowofade Elegbede, and Osagie Azeta explore the Scalable Employment Model's potential to reshape Africa's economic landscape, diving into CFYE's SEM Call and highlighting the impactful work of Acumen and initiatives like CropSafe.