UNECA, AfDB launch joint youth job drive

THE United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched a joint project to tackle challengessuch as youth unemployment in sub-region, according to a statement released on Wednesday.The statement by UNECA Communication Officer Sampa Kangwa in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, said the two organisations have identified and discussed possible areaswhere they will be working together in helping countries tackle their various challenges.According to the statement, issued after high-level talks at the AfDB offices in Lusaka, will see the two organizations collaborating in projects such as addressing youth unemployment, irrigation schemes, trade facilitation and transboundary projects betweenZambia and Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.The high-level talks will be preceded by a joint technical meeting between the two organizations, the statement added. UNECA Southern Africa Director Beatrice Kiraso said in the statement that Zambia and the sub-region stands to benefit if the two organizations combine their expertise and resources to undertake joint programs aimed at socio-economic development. 'A harmonized approach through joint collaboration on common projects will have a significant impact on our efforts to support Zambia and other member states to meet their development goals, 'she said.While acknowledging that the two organizations have a very strong partnership at a continental level, she said there was need for a systematic interaction at national andregional level to counter the fragmented and ad-hoc approach to collaboration.
Click here to read full news..