Economic Complexity and Employment for Youth and Women in Africa
BUILDING ECONOMIC COMPLEXITY IN AFRICA: LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH
The youthful nature of the populations of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa presents challenges and could also be a source of productive manpower. Efforts to harness any dividend that may accrue from this rapid growth in the number of young people require well-targetted policies that can be anchored on for the structural transformation of economies in the sub region and expand better opportunities (in the form of decent and productive jobs) for all including women. Currently, the International Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS) in collaboration with the Development Research Policy Unit (DPRU), University of Cape Town is undertaking a Research project titled "Economic Complexity and Employment for Youth and Women in Ghana". This research under the broad theme "Building Economic Complexity in Africa: Laying the Foundation for Expanding Economic Opportunities for Women and Youth in Africa" is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. The research broadly uses a new approach to identify specific products that have diversification potential and can be leveraged on for the provision of more jobs for young people and women in four (4) African countries (South Africa, Ghana, Senegal and Kenya). It further investigates constraints and opportunities inherent in the production processes of these products and intends to inform national dialogue on industrialisation and job creation.
The lead researcher for the study in Ghana is Prof. William Baah-Boateng, a Senior Fellow of IIAS.
For more information on the Research and other related activities, please click on the following link http://www.dpru.uct.ac.za/building-economic-complexity-africa-laying-fou...
Participants at the Inception Workshop
FUNDED BY:
