KABUL (SW): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and UNFPA – the United Nations Population Fund have launched “Investing in Youth: How to realize Afghanistan's Demographic Dividend” that has revealed that within the next five years 4 million more young Afghans would enter the job market.
According to UNFPA’s annual report released on Sunday, jobs opportunities need to be created for these young people.
"The demographic dividend provides a window of opportunity for Afghanistan to accelerate socio-economic development", said Dr Annette Sachs Robertson, UNFPA Representative. "Today we have the opportunity to invest in our youth, particularly in girls, to ensure they are productively integrated in the society and achieve their full potential."
She said that the report from Central Statistics Office and UN indicated how the age composition of the Afghan population was changing. She added that Afghanistan should invest at least 500 million $ in education sector.
Abdul Satar Murad, Minister of Economy said on the occasion that with 63% of population comprising on youngsters, Afghanistan was the second youngest country in the world. Murad added that he too was concerned about lack of employment opportunities for the youth.
He added that each year 400 to 500 thousands youngsters join the working age.
The publication illustrates a changing population age structure and emerging youth bulge, during the upcoming Afghanistan's transformation decade, based on population projections from census, socio-demographic and household survey data.
"Young people form the backbone of a country. When they are empowered sufficiently, the country will be more self-reliant”, said Abdul Bari Jahani, Minister of Information and Culture. "And therefore the young generation needs to be guided towards the right direction by providing them a safe environment and suitable resources."
According to the report, fertility rates in Afghanistan have decreased from 6.3 in 2005 to 5.1 in 2015. The use of family planning methods has also increased: currently 20 percent of married women use a modern contraceptive method.
Lowered fertility rates through voluntary family planning are linked to women's empowerment and increases in women's labour-force participation and earnings, contributing to the country's economy. It also enhances the life-chances of their children and their education, helping to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Finally, the report recommends an investment in employment opportunities for young people so they can be productively integrated in the society and into labour force and contribute to economic progress, peace and stability.
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