The world has a large population of young people, with 60% of those under 25 living in the least developed countries (LDCs) and African youth being the most financially excluded. The school-to-work transition for youth in LDCs is also weak, and most are engaged in low-quality employment in the informal sector. However, if youth can leverage the benefits of the digital economy, they can adapt their skills to market needs, access financial services, and link to market opportunities, leading to decent employment opportunities and reduced youth unemployment rates.

The publication outlines the efforts of the 'Africa Youth Programme' and highlights its achievements between 2018-2022 in preparing young people to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital economy.