The African Development Bank (AfDB) is intensifying its push to tackle unemployment across Africa, unveiling over $105 billion in financing to generate 19 million jobs by the end of 2025. The initiative is part of its flagship Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy.
With the continent’s youth population expected to reach 830 million by 2050, AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah emphasised that empowering young Africans through innovation and stronger private-sector alliances remains vital to unlocking sustainable growth.
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Ould Tah reiterated the Bank’s commitment during the World Bank Group’s High-Level Advisory Council on Jobs, held alongside the 2025 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. The event gathered financial leaders, ministers, and corporate executives to explore practical approaches to large-scale job creation, according to a statement by the Bank.
He noted that “Africa’s youth are not a challenge to contain but the power driving the continent’s future.” He added, “We must build relevant skills, formalise informal work, and scale up support for MSMEs.”
Discussions at the Council centred on tourism and skills development, two sectors seen as key drivers of employment. Tourism already accounts for one in every twenty jobs across Africa, employing many women and young people. Yet, over 80% of workers in the sector remain informal, with limited access to funding, training, or career advancement.
To tackle this, AfDB is rolling out digital-first training initiatives and backing tourism-related MSMEs to strengthen employment ecosystems. The Bank has also introduced a new Youth, Skills, and Jobs Marker System to measure job quality and inclusiveness in its projects.
Ould Tah’s participation marks the midpoint of his first 100 days as president, aligning with his “Four Cardinal Points” strategy: mobilising large-scale capital, integrating African markets, boosting local industrialisation, and investing in talent and technology.
