Latest news with #YuWaah
India Today
29-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Need for gender responsive models to navigate workforce related migration
In an effort to support young women navigating the challenges of workforce-related migration, UNICEF YuWaah hosted a high-level roundtable today at the UNICEF Office in New Delhi. The discussion brought together key ecosystem partners to gather insights on migration support models that have been successful and co-develop scalable, gender-responsive models for migration support, aimed at enabling safer and more dignified transitions for young women entering urban migration being a critical pathway for employment in India, women - especially those at the early stages of their careers, remain significantly underrepresented among migrants due to concerns around safety, financial insecurity, social norms, and the lack of transitional support this gap, UNICEF YuWaah, under its Digital Girls Hub initiative, plans to pilot a Migration Support Program designed to address these barriers. The program will test models that offer bundled, short-term support services that encourage more young women and their parents to feel safe and comfortable migrating for jobs Setting the context, Giorgia Varisco, Chief of YuWaah said, "Young women are aspiring to engage in meaningful work. Yet, many of these opportunities are concentrated in urban areas. Migration, while potentially transformative, can also present many challenges, especially when undertaken without adequate support. Through the Digital Girls Hub initiative, UNICEF YuWaah will pilot a Migration Support Program, designed to strengthen existing efforts through collaboration and insights from our ecosystem partners."advertisement"Leaving the village and surviving in the urban workforce is very tough. We need to create enabling conditions for young women to join the workforce-through support at different stages of their journey, starting from the source state, with pre-migration support, to destination support. Employers must also ensure dignity and safety" said Arti Ahuja, Former Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of IndiaAt the discussion, L Sudhakara Reddy, Director (M&E), DDUGKY Resource Cell, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) said, "The solution to migration and retention isn't with one player, it's a shared responsibility between training partners, employers, and the state. Everyone has a role to play."The speakers collectively looked at ways to develop gender-responsive models that are informed by real-world evidence. They also explored measures that foster a secure, organised, and systematic migration process, with a particular focus on resolving the unique challenges faced by women migrants as they seek employment UNICEF YuWaahAs part of the UN Youth Policy 2030, the UN Secretary-General launched UNICEF's global Generation Unlimited (GenU) movement at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. This initiative addresses the urgent needs of young people aged 10-24 by expanding learning, skill development, employment, and engagement opportunities. The India chapter of Generation Unlimited, known as YuWaah, was launched in November 2019. By 2030, YuWaah at UNICEF aims to: advertisementCreate pathways for 100 million young people to access aspirational socio-economic opportunities. Enable 200 million young people to acquire relevant skills for productive lives and the future of work. Partner with 300 million young people as change-makers, providing spaces for them to develop their leadership skills.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
India's youth seek purpose-driven careers in changing work landscape
With one of the youngest populations in the world, India stands at a demographic crossroads. As the nation looks ahead to its 2047 vision of becoming a developed country—Viksit Bharat—the role of young people in shaping that future has never been more critical. The vast energy and ambition of the youth could be India's greatest asset, provided it is nurtured, skilled, and aligned with emerging economic realities. The evolving nature of work is transforming expectations across the board. Digital transformation, automation, climate change, and entrepreneurship are creating new industries and redefining how people think about employment. Amid this change, young people are not just passive participants—they are demanding a seat at the table. REIMAGINING WORK AND SKILLS IN A CHANGING WORLD Abhishek Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of YuWaah (Generation Unlimited India), reflects on this changing tide. 'The nature of work is shifting rapidly,' he says. There's a rising demand for green jobs, AI skills, and entrepreneurial thinking. "We're seeing that young people are keen to gain future-facing competencies that are not only relevant today but will continue to hold value tomorrow.' Gupta notes that the emphasis is now on accessibility—how skills and opportunities reach young people across geographies. Through collaborative platforms and digital initiatives, the focus is on creating spaces where skill development, job opportunities, and volunteering come together. But it's not just about training the youth—it's about engaging them meaningfully in designing the frameworks that will impact their economic futures. YOUTH ASPIRATIONS A major shift is underway in how young people perceive their role in the economy. Increasingly, they seek not just employment but influence—an opportunity to co-create the systems that will govern their work lives. 'There's a clear move towards flexible and purpose-driven work,' Gupta explains. Young people are no longer drawn to the traditional 9-to-5. Instead, they are exploring careers that align with their values—whether that's in sustainability, tech, or social enterprise.' Data gathered through pulse surveys reveals strong entrepreneurial aspirations, especially amongst those above 25 years of age. Interestingly, more than half of the respondents—irrespective of gender—did not view full-time employment as a preferable option over running a business. This suggests a growing comfort with risk and a desire for autonomy, signalling a broader cultural shift in the Indian workforce. BUILDING COLLABORATIVE ECOSYSTEMS FOR CHANGE Meeting these aspirations requires more than just programmes—it demands an ecosystem. And that ecosystem must be deeply collaborative. YuWaah's model has been to convene diverse stakeholders: from government departments and civil society groups to the private sector and the youth themselves. The idea is simple but powerful: no single institution can solve youth challenges in isolation. Partnerships that offer technical, financial, and moral support are essential. For example, initiatives aimed at identifying grassroots solutions and scaling them with the help of collective support networks are helping to bridge the gap between youth innovation and systemic impact. ---- India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 will depend, in large part, on how it harnesses the potential of its youth. The stakes are particularly high for those on the margins—young women, rural populations, and communities historically excluded from opportunity.
