On International Youth Day, TechnoServe calls for greater investment in the systems that help young people participate fully in economic life.

On International Youth Day, TechnoServe calls for greater investment in the systems that help young people participate fully in economic life.

ARLINGTON, VA (August 12, 2026) – On International Youth Day, TechnoServe is highlighting the contributions that young people are already making to local economies. Around the world, young people are contributing as entrepreneurs, employees, farmers, and innovators. Ensuring they can build on those contributions requires collective action to develop systems that support their participation and growth. 

Cristina Manfre, Global Director of Women and Youth at TechnoServe, issued the following statement:

“International Youth Day offers an important opportunity to recognize the many ways young people are already contributing to their communities and economies. Across the countries where TechnoServe works, we see young people with bold aspirations, ideas, and determination, but we also see how much their ability to act on that potential depends on the opportunities and support available to them.  

“High rates of unemployment and underemployment help to illustrate this challenge; in 2025, nearly 260 million young people are not in education. The International Labour Organization reports that in low-income countries, relatively low youth unemployment often reflects underemployment and informal work rather than meaningful opportunities. Many young people are ready to work, build businesses, and contribute their skills, but they do not always have effective pathways to translate their capabilities into sustainable livelihoods. For some, that means being unable to find work. For others, it means working in roles that do not fully use their skills or provide opportunities to grow.   

“That is why we think about youth economic empowerment as a long-term economic transition. The opportunities young people have access to during early adulthood shape how they participate in the economy. Access to meaningful work, finance, markets, and professional networks helps them build experience, strengthen their skills, pursue entrepreneurship, and take on leadership roles. Investing during this stage has lasting effects for individuals and for the economies they help shape. Their participation strengthens the resilience and competitiveness of local economies.

“Creating those opportunities requires collective action: governments, financial institutions, educators, and civil society each have a role in creating an environment where young people can participate fully in economic life. Ultimately, though, it is the private sector and markets that must take a leading role in providing those opportunities for youth leadership. 

“When young people can participate fully in the economy, businesses have access to new talent, markets become more dynamic, and communities become better positioned to adapt to future challenges.”

About TechnoServe

Founded in 1968, TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty for good. A non-profit organization working in around 20 countries, we work with people to build a better future through regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes. Our vision is a sustainable world where all people in low-income communities have the opportunity to prosper.

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