ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews and analyses the implementation of youth employment programmes (YEPs) in South Africa. To go beyond the letter-of-the-programmes and explore actual implementation, the chapter uses evidence from a mix of methods combining desk reviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and interviews. Most resources focus on creating short-term jobs. Funding for these programmes is 0.4% of South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), higher than sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA’s) average but lower than in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Although studies on these programmes are increasing, they rarely address governance and political economy aspects. While these programmes create job opportunities, their impact on reducing youth unemployment is limited. Key challenges identified in the study include low economic growth and small business formation, accessibility and selection criteria, coordination and harmonisation of interventions, implementation effectiveness, budget adequacy and access to funding, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), political cycles, innovation and dealing with disruptors, and sustainability of programmes. The government's reliance on short-term public employment initiatives temporarily addresses job shortages but fails to reduce youth unemployment long-term, sustaining high youth unemployment and expanding informal employment. Addressing these issues is vital for enhancing programme effectiveness and reducing youth unemployment. Additionally, decision-making based on comprehensive data is necessary to identify and tackle the root causes of youth unemployment.
