This month, the Riyada podcast commemorated International Youth Day – recognized on August 12 – by featuring vibrant, young entrepreneurs from the MENA region. In this interview, co-hosts Merissa Khurma and Imad Shawa sat down with UNICEF’s youth expert at Jordan’s country office, Giorgia Varisco, to learn more about what she sees as the most pressing challenges and promising solutions facing youth.
Giorgia detailed the organization’s work to address Jordan’s high youth unemployment - particularly among women - with an emphasis on preparing young people for the world of work. This includes connecting them to employment opportunities and providing tailored programs to build entrepreneurship skills and increase access to finance.
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This podcast was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.
Middle East Program
The Wilson Center’s Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform US foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Read more
The MENA Workforce Development Initiative
The Middle East and North Africa Workforce Development Initiative (MENA-WDI) aims to assess both current and projected challenges facing the region in developing the workforce and the implications for peace and stability. Read more
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