In the face of large-scale youth unemployment worldwide, entrepreneurship has grown in popularity as an intervention, particularly where few wage jobs exist. Entrepreneurship traditionally refers to starting or expanding a growth-oriented business that creates value. Entrepreneurs identify an unmet market opportunity and marshal the financial, organizational, and other resources to exploit it, usually assuming a degree of risk. In practice, however, entrepreneurship programming has been extended by the global development community to support a wide variety of youth business and self-employment efforts, many of which are focused on enhancing livelihoods of both mainstream and disadvantaged populations. This programming is directly or indirectly relevant to workforce development, livelihoods, and economic strengthening; economic growth; rural development; economic empowerment of women and girls; and outcomes for other at-risk and vulnerable populations as well as other areas of interest to USAID.
While evidence on the effectiveness of training interventions for youth is mixed and under increasing scrutiny, the majority of rigorously evaluated youth-focused efforts are entrepreneurship education and training (EE&T) initiatives. Most of these also provide complementary services such as access to finance,coaching and mentoring, networking, or business services. Another reason for this focus on EE&T is that youth are more likely to be students and to be connected to education and training systems.
In addition to the skills and services typically provided in EE&T programming, entrepreneurial success is also influenced by the supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem (or enabling environment) in which youth form businesses. Ecosystem quality varies widely, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This ecosystem comprises the political and social context in which business formation and growth occurs and includes both “hard” factors—the legal and regulatory framework and availability of finance capital and services—and “soft” factors—a supportive, entrepreneur-friendly culture, growth-mentality of businesses,and attitudes toward risk.
Evidence
What Works in Entrepreneurship Education and Training Programs for Youth? - Evidence Report
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