Abstract

The percentage of young people in populations in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia has increased dramatically. In Uganda, for example, 65% of people are under 25. This can either be a demographic “dividend” for a country or a critical challenge. If there are no jobs for these young people it is not only a waste of human talent and energy but it can also cause conflicts or huge migration challenges. While there have been attempts to develop jobs, this global challenge has not really been focused on. Efforts have been piecemeal and have not involved young people themselves.

Work on this topic is taking place in Cambridge in Geography and Sociology particularly, with a view to establishing an International Commission. Meanwhile we have been engaged with work on the ground involving NGOs like Restless Development to learn what young people today think about their lives, current ways of “getting by” and their futures. These include a research study in Uganda on the effects of climate change on youth and work. In this seminar I will focus particularly on what young people say about their lives and work as well as some of the specific effects of climate change.