This consultation paper sheds light on “how to maximize the impact of youth entrepreneurship in different contexts” and is premised on the notion that although operating contexts are often thought to be “critical to impact” there exists “very little understanding or guidance about how context affects impact in practice, or how interventions should be adapted to maximise impact - especially in youth entrepreneurship and livelihoods”.
“Context is critical. Each country is unique in terms of its economic and social realities, and will seek to promote entrepreneurship and innovation using whatever tools are available and to meet specific goals relevant to the local context.” -(UNCTAD)
“Context is critical. Each country is unique in terms of its economic and social realities, and will seek to promote entrepreneurship and innovation using whatever tools are available and to meet specific goals relevant to the local context.”
-(UNCTAD)
This consultation paper, launched in July 2012, sheds light on “how to maximize the impact of youth entrepreneurship in different contexts” and is premised on the notion that although operating contexts are often thought to be “critical to impact” there exists “very little understanding or guidance about how context affects impact in practice, or how interventions should be adapted to maximise impact - especially in youth entrepreneurship and livelihoods”.
The framework presented, originating from a diverse consultation strategy, includes a series of practical toolkits. It is intended to guide target audiences as follows:
There is a general consensus at large that the youth entrepreneurship sector is undermined from fulfilling its potential by a lack of evaluation about what works, why and where:
“The youth livelihood field is characterized by a severe lack of sound evidence… The dearth of rigorous studies - despite huge demand - severely limits large scale investments in the sector. The lack of evidence is a constraint to winning public support for youth livelihoods interventions. Government officials typically want impact and cost-benefit estimates before investing in large programmes. As a result of the lack of such evidence in the youth livelihood field, it is often difficult to make a convincing case in comparison to other interventions, such as infrastructure development, where much more evidence is available. Improving the evidence base would therefore also facilitate scale up and replication.” - (Hempel, K. & Fiala, N. (2012). ‘Measuring Success of Youth Livelihood Interventions’. The World Bank, p.5)
“The youth livelihood field is characterized by a severe lack of sound evidence… The dearth of rigorous studies - despite huge demand - severely limits large scale investments in the sector. The lack of evidence is a constraint to winning public support for youth livelihoods interventions. Government officials typically want impact and cost-benefit estimates before investing in large programmes. As a result of the lack of such evidence in the youth livelihood field, it is often difficult to make a convincing case in comparison to other interventions, such as infrastructure development, where much more evidence is available. Improving the evidence base would therefore also facilitate scale up and replication.”
- (Hempel, K. & Fiala, N. (2012). ‘Measuring Success of Youth Livelihood Interventions’. The World Bank, p.5)
Accordingly, this paper provides a timely addition to the debate laying out a framework as well as concrete recommendations to those interested in ensuring maximum efficiency within the variable contexts of youth entrepreneurship. Additionally, the process does not end here, the report details information of a sector wide consultation programme currently running (July-November 2012) which has been designed to enhance the framework and toolkit - published results and subsequent amendments are anticipated in the first half of 2013
This report was produced by Youth Business International (YBI) in partnership with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Restless Development and War Child.
***
Full Report Link: http://www.restlessdevelopment.org/file/youth-entrepreneurship-framework-pdf