UNCTAD in collaboration with the Africa Capacity Building Foundation and UNIDO is organising an Expert Meeting on Exports Diversification and Employment in Africa, as side event of the 2018 AFRICA THINK TANK SUMMIT on “Tackling Africa’s Youth Unemployment Challenge: Innovative Solutions from the Think Tanks”. The event will examine how exports diversification can strengthen the linkages between the growth process and employment creation. It has been observed that over the past few decades, Africa has experienced relatively strong trade and output growth. However, this growth has not led to significant employment creation particularly for vulnerable groups (such as women and youth). Against this backdrop, African policymakers are looking for ways and means to translate future growth into high and decent job creation to enhance prospects for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Participants will identify strategies and policies to enhance the contribution of export diversification to employment creation in Africa. The Summit is to promote knowledge-sharing, identify networking and collaboration opportunities amongst researchers, policymakers and practitioners.
