WHAT AILS THE YOUNG? INSIGHTS INTO AFRICA’S YOUTH FROM THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM

The document examines the 'crisis of integration' facing Africa's youth, utilizing African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports from 16 countries. It identifies a critical mismatch between education systems and economic needs, where high graduation rates in humanities contrast with low rates in science and agriculture. This leads to widespread underemployment and 'waithood,' where young people are unable to achieve adult independence. While this exclusion can fuel crime, political instability, and recruitment into insurgent groups like Boko Haram, the author also highlights a strong entrepreneurial drive and a growing trend of political activism among the youth. The paper argues that state-led interventions are often hampered by capacity constraints and recommends partnerships with non-governmental bodies and a shift toward vocational and technical training.

• Africa is the youngest region globally, with a median age of 19.3 years; as of 2015, 75% of its 1.2 billion people were aged 34 or younger.
• There is a significant mismatch between the skills provided by African education systems and the requirements of the economy, with a disproportionate number of graduates in humanities and social sciences compared to science, engineering, and agriculture.
• Youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa is often a matter of underemployment, where young people work in a precarious, low-productivity informal sector that serves as a means of survival rather than wealth creation.
• Educated youth entering the labour market for the first time are often at the highest risk of unemployment, leading to a 'revolution of expectations' and frustration among graduates.
• Socio-economic exclusion and the inability to achieve economic independence create a state of 'waithood,' which can lead to social pathologies including crime, drug trafficking, and recruitment into rebel groups.
• Despite systemic challenges, African youth demonstrate a high inclination toward entrepreneurship, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which the author identifies as a major potential asset for the continent.
• Youth political activism is increasing, often bypassing formal structures and utilizing social media to challenge injustices, as seen in the Arab Spring and 2015 South African student protests.
• State-led youth interventions are frequently undermined by resource constraints, poor program design, lack of empirical data, and a lack of coordination with broader economic reforms.

APA

Corrigan, T. (2016). WHAT AILS THE YOUNG? INSIGHTS INTO AFRICA’S YOUTH FROM THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Occasional-Paper-234.pdf

Chicago

Corrigan, Terence. WHAT AILS THE YOUNG? INSIGHTS INTO AFRICA’S YOUTH FROM THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2016. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Occasional-Paper-234.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Corrigan |first1=Terence |title=WHAT AILS THE YOUNG? INSIGHTS INTO AFRICA’S YOUTH FROM THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=June 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Occasional-Paper-234.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{corrigan2016what, author = {Corrigan, Terence}, title = {{WHAT AILS THE YOUNG? INSIGHTS INTO AFRICA’S YOUTH FROM THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Occasional-Paper-234.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }