Tyranny of Unemployment in the Region: Country Studies on Employment Challenges in the EAC

This post originally appeared in FES Tanzania website and formed part of the resource materials for the YLTP 2013 Dar es Salaam conference. 

Scholars in each of the EAC country and Ethiopia we’re commissioned to come up with resource materials that would serve to inform the delegates invited.

The issue of (youth) unemployment is much debated in Eastern African countries. 

Find below different country studies on employment challenges. 

·   Burundi - Employment Challenges in Burundi, Compilation from Several Sources, FES Tanzania, August 2013.
·    Ethiopia - Employment Challenges in Ethiopia, Martha Kibru, September 2013.
·    Kenya - The Role of the State in Economic Development: Employment Challenges in Kenya, Jacob Omolo, September 2012.
· Rwanda - The Role of the State in Economic Development, Employment Challenges and Policies, A Case of Rwanda, Felicien Usengumukiza and Pacifique Barihuta, September 2012.
· Tanzania - The Role of the State in Economic Development: Employment Challenges in Eastern Africa, The Case of Tanzania, George Nangale, September 2012.
·  Uganda - The Role of the State in Economic Development: Employment Challenges in Uganda, Lawrence N. Bategeka, 2012.

In anticipation of a FES Youth Regional Summit: from Addis Ababa to Dar es Salaam

Tanzania

Ethiopian YLTP Gig last year was pretty awesome and for a moment I wanted this year’s YLTP to be in Addis however this was not to be. When news percolated in late July that the next YLTP was going to be in Tanzania my expectations of what to expect in Tanzania began to crystallize

Naturally, we have had good news about our Tanzanian friends especially their warmth, friendliness and affection. However, in trade matters it was pretty clear from the offset that Tanzanian’s fear their Kenyan neighbours’. This might have been as a result of misrepresentation by the Kenyan Citizens who sent to Tanzania and gave Kenya a bad reputation. So when the two countries are involved stereotypes are bound to fly. However, given Tanzanian’s we’re the host of this annual Gig and having met and made some excellent contacts in Tanzania I decided to let this pass.

In the run up to my visit this blog post [of trials and tribulationsof when visiting Tanzania]came to the limelight. So I made sure all my travel papers and the necessary documents we’re in check least I fall under the same fate.

I happen to have a friend who has been working in Tanzania from last year and he has been singing about Dar es Salaam life like a bird. So he suggested a few things I should do while in Dar. 

My Bucket list for Tanzania

1. Drinking Kilimanjaro
2. Chips Mayai
3. Visiting Zanzibar
4. Listen to Bongo by the Ocean.

Serious matters up for consideration

1. Youth Unemployment in the region
2. Challenges of African Leadership
3. How to manage the Regional National Resources

For more info on the Gig and EAC Case Studies

Important Book Launch as we head to the Elections: Taking Stock of Socio-Economic Challenges in the Nairobi Slums

Yesterday Citizens Against Violence initiative (CAVi) launched a publication titled Taking Stock of Socio-Economic Challenges in the Nairobi Slums.

This publication is a culmination of monthly sittings which CAV has been organizing in the informal settlements from early 2008. These sittings we’re as a result of 2007 Post Election Violence and realization that it was from these informal settlements trouble started.

A body of 60 young leaders representing 10 slums in Nairobi was chosen to attend the monthly Slum Residents Assembly.

The intended consequence of this initiative was to avert future conflicts in the slums and also to understand the root causes of these unrest.  The other by product of these meet up has been a nurturing ground for young leaders in the informal settlements with a handful of participants of these meet up contesting in the coming elections as ward reps.

The young leaders were trained in advocacy work, conflict resolution, public communication and approaches to represent the needs of their respective slum areas. A smaller group of twenty members underwent an intensive training for candidature at the upcoming elections.

The publication and meet ups were supported by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) a German foundation which is keen in entrenching youth discourse in Kenyan society though capacity building and policy development