New Tool Tracks Africa's Youth Job Growth

Aug 18 , 2024


A new tool to monitor and forecast youth job growth across Africa until 2030 was launched last week. The African Youth Employment Clock (AYEC) provides real-time data on job creation and employment trends, broken down by employment status, industry, and other key categories. Developed by the World Data Lab in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, with support from the National Bank of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Innovation & Technology, the Ministry of Planning & Development, and the Ethiopian Statistical Service, AYEC leverages data from national statistics offices, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). By providing policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders with valuable insights, AYEC aims to contribute to creating dignified and fulfilling jobs for 30 million young Africans by 2030. With Africa's youth population set to increase by nearly 100 million by then, addressing youth unemployment is a critical challenge. Wolfgang Fengler, CEO of the World Data Lab, underlined, that Africa's young population represents a unique demographic opportunity. “If we exclude Africa, the world is running out of young people,” he said.


Radar

Amendment Expands Access for Foreign Traders

Foreign participation in Ethiopia's wholesale, retail, import, and export trade sectors has come under renewed focus as the Ethiopian Investment Board(EIB) approved a significant amendment to Directive No. 1001/2016  in its meeting on May 23, 2025. The amendment, proposed by the Ethiopian Investment Commission(EIC), focuses on refining the legal framework governing foreign investment in these sectors. The decision is part of a broader strategy to enhance the country's appeal as an investment...


Radar

NBE Sets Four Percent Ceiling on Foreign Exchange Fees

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) issued a new foreign exchange market directive on May 20, 2025, that caps commercial banks' forex service fees at a maximum of four percent. Banks are instructed to adapt competitive, transparent, and streamlined pricing for all forex-related services. Effective May 26, 2025, total charges for purchasing foreign exchange whether for imports, service payments, or cash note purchases must not exceed the newly set limit. The directive also prohibits banks f...


Radar

SantimPay Launches Zero-fee Digital Remittance Platform

SantimPay has rolled out FrankRemit, first fully integrated, zero-fee digital remittance platform, in partnership with Bank of Abyssinia(BOA). The service smoothly connects all commercial banks and major mobile money providers, including Telebirr, M-Pesa, and CBE Birr which is a first of its kind in the country. FrankRemit is expected to revolutionise how the Ethiopian diaspora sends money home. Developed locally and tested over the past two weeks with successful transfers from multiple count...