AfDB Targets 19 Million Jobs with $105bn Youth Employment Initiative by 2025

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has unveiled a massive $105 billion financing plan aimed at creating 19 million jobs by the end of 2025, under its flagship Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy.

With the continent’s youth population projected to reach 830 million by 2050, AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah said the Bank is focusing on youth empowerment, innovation, and private-sector partnerships to drive Africa’s next economic transformation.

He made the announcement during the World Bank Group’s High-Level Advisory Council on Jobs, held on the sidelines of the 2025 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.

“Africa’s youth are not a burden; they are the engine of our continent’s future,” Ould Tah said. “We must invest in the right skills, formalise the informal economy, and scale support for MSMEs.”

Tourism and Skills Development Drive Job Creation

The Council’s discussions centered on tourism and skills development — two high-potential sectors for job creation. Tourism currently sustains one in every 20 jobs across Africa, with young people and women forming the bulk of the workforce.

However, Ould Tah noted that more than 80% of tourism workers operate informally, lacking access to finance, social protection, or structured career opportunities.

To address this, the AfDB is expanding digital-first skills training programs and support for tourism-linked MSMEs to build resilient employment ecosystems and sustainable growth.

Tracking Progress and Inclusivity

Ould Tah also revealed that the Bank has launched a new Youth, Skills and Jobs Marker System to monitor job quality, inclusiveness, and impact across AfDB-funded projects.

The initiative aligns with Ould Tah’s “Four Cardinal Points” strategic framework — focusing on mobilizing capital at scale, unifying markets, advancing local industrialization, and investing in talent and technology.

As he reaches the halfway point of his first 100 days in office, Ould Tah reiterated that youth-centered development remains key to unlocking Africa’s long-term prosperity.