Youth Digital Skills and the Power of 3P | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

With the onset of the current pandemic and the continuation of the fourth industrial revolution, digital skills play a critical role in the present and future success of youth. There are very few jobs today that do not demand at least a minimum knowledge of how to interact with digital technology. Those that do, are at risk of being replaced by automation.

The push for youth to enhance digital skills is not new however with the rise of COVID-19 the urgency is evident. This crisis risks reversing decades of progress in education and socio-economic well being by exacerbating the already existing high levels of inequality across disadvantaged youth (with disabilities or living in underprivileged areas or where digital infrastructures do not exist or are not affordable). These youth, and in particular young entrepreneurs, play a key role in our recovery and progression following the pandemic.

To help to address the above-stated challenges major companies, academia and governments have launched digital initiatives, aiming to come up with solutions to help young people find employment and create partnerships for empowering youth through digital technologies while accelerating the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

To commemorate the 2020 World Development Information Day, the UNDESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the support of United Peoples (UP) will organize a webinar on “Youth Engagement for Global Action – Digital Skills and the Power of 3P” on 23 October at 11:30 am (NY Time).

Resources:

World Youth Report 2020 on "Youth Social Entrepreneurship and the 2030 Agenda"

For more information about UNDESA's work on Youth Issues, please visit:
https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/