Education and Youth employment in Sub-Sahara Africa: linkages and policy responses
by ALTMAN, M., VOLKER, S. & RAMA, N., 2013"Human Sciences Research Council paper presented to the African Economic Research Consortium workshop on Youth and Unemployment, Kigali, Rwanda, March 21-22, 2013"
Young people in Africa find it increasingly difficult to transition into employment. Governments acknowledge the challenge of youth unemployment and underemployment and are looking for appropriate interventions. Investment in education is one of the main policy tools for addressing poverty and promoting economic growth. However, African countries grapple with a range of challenges. Many are…
read more >>The potential of social grants expenditure to promote local economic development and job creation
by JACOBS, P, BAIPHETHI, M, NGCOGO, N & HART, T, 2010Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
South Africa’s publicly funded social safety net, which consists of multiple conditional cash grants, has expanded considerably since a child support grant was added to the old age pensions and disability grants in 2002. Jacobs et al draw together local and global evidence on the developmental potential of social grants, including a typology of social…
read more >>Policy Options to Leverage the System of Social Grants for Improved Access to Economic Opportunity
by ALTMAN, M. & BOYCE, G, 2008Research Report, Employment Growth & Development Initiative, Human Sciences Research Council
The distribution of social grants in South Africa expanded considerably between 2001 and 2007. However, in a context of high unemployment, there is concern that unemployed household members depend on grants that are meant to target children, the aged or disabled. Thus grants are spread thinly, dramatically reducing their contribution to the intended beneficiaries. Moreover,…
read more >>Social security for young people amidst high poverty and unemployment: some policy options for South Africa
by ALTMAN,M., MOKOMANE,Z., WRIGHT,G, 2014Development Southern Africa,2014, Vol. 31:2, 347-362
South African youth experience extremely high levels of unemployment and poverty. Currently there is no social assistance for low-income young adults in South Africa unless they are disabled. Interventions are needed that can achieve widespread poverty alleviation, as well as help facilitate economic participation to improve lifelong earnings. In this article, six examples of social…
read more >>Social Grant for Youth – some policy options: Framework On Social Security For Youth In South Africa
by ALTMAN,M., MOKOMANE,Z., WRIGHT,G. & BOYCE,G., 2012Human Sciences Research Council report submitted to National Department of Social Development March 2012
South African youth experience extremely high levels of unemployment and poverty. Currently there is no social assistance for low-income young adults, unless they are disabled. Interventions are needed that can achieve widespread poverty alleviation, as well as facilitate economic participation to improve lifelong earnings. Altman et al. consider six examples of social security policy options,…
read more >>The state of youth: Trends in education attainment
by SHEPPARD, C, 2009Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
Sheppard provides an overview of the education attainment of the youth in South Africa. He focuses on the 18–24 and 25–35 age cohorts, but also briefly reviews trends in the participation of younger age groups in primary and secondary education, given the impact of their participation rate and education attainment on the youth. The paper…
read more >>The state of youth: A demographic perspective
by CHIMERE-DAN, G. & MAKIWANE, M, 2010Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
The share of youth population in South Africa has grown substantially – from 17.9% in 1960 to 20.5% in 2009. This trend is likely to continue into the next decade, with a significant reversal expected from about 2020s. The size and trend in the youth population have many implications for socioeconomic development. From a policy standpoint,…
read more >>The state of youth: Is the health status of youth improving?
by CHIMERE-DAN, G. & MAKIWANE, M, 2010Research Report. Human Science Research Council
This paper examines the health status of South African youth in the past 15 years, using available quantitative data. Specific areas of interest include youth disability, substance abuse, sexual and reproductive behaviour, and HIV and AIDS. The paper also assesses the pattern of health status implied in official statistics on mortality among the youth. The…
read more >>Social grants to promote youth employment: some policy options
by ALTMAN,M., MOKOMANE, Z., G WRIGHT, 2014Development Southern Africa. Vol. 31, No. 2, 347–362. 2014.
South African youth experience extremely high levels of unemployment and poverty. Currently there is no social assistance for low-income young adults in South Africa unless they are disabled. Interventions are needed that can achieve widespread poverty alleviation, as well as help facilitate economic participation to improve lifelong earnings. In this article, six examples of social…
read more >>