With over 400 million young people aged between 15 and 35, Africa is home to the world’s youngest population. Yet youth unemployment remains stubbornly high. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), in 2023, nearly 22% of young people in sub-Saharan Africa were not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
The need to create sustainable economic opportunities for Africa’s youth is more urgent than ever. Investing in skill development and meaningful work can unlock economic growth, reduce inequality, and build resilient communities across the continent. One emerging solution is impact sourcing—a model designed to provide career pathways for young people from marginalised backgrounds.
The Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) highlights that it’s not enough to create jobs alone; the focus must also be on ensuring work is dignified and fulfilling, particularly for disadvantaged groups. Impact sourcing aligns with this goal by providing structured opportunities within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry for young people who might otherwise be excluded from formal employment.
Impact sourcing can transform lives at scale. Research suggests that when someone living below the poverty line secures formal employment, it positively affects around five to six family members.
Many African employers face difficulties filling roles because of a mismatch between available skills and job requirements, even as young graduates struggle to secure employment. Workplace readiness training sits at the heart of successful impact sourcing.
These programmes go beyond technical skills, covering critical soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. They are tailored to local contexts and employer needs but share a common aim: preparing young people for sustained success and career progression.
In South Africa, the focus is often on under-educated youth without access to higher education. Training in digital literacy, time management and professionalism helps bridge the gap, offering a route into the formal economy.
For countries like Kenya, the challenge is slightly different: a large pool of unemployed graduates lacking practical experience and the workplace-ready skills needed to thrive. Here, impact sourcing programmes strengthen soft skills, provide mentorship and hands-on training, and help graduates translate academic knowledge into job market value.
CareerBox Africa, which first tested the model in South Africa, has now expanded to Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana, and is soon launching in Botswana. By adapting workplace readiness training to each country’s unique socio-economic realities, the organisation creates scalable, inclusive employment solutions.
The benefits ripple outwards: women’s employment uplifts families and communities, while businesses that practice impact sourcing often see improved retention rates and access to resilient talent.
As Africa’s digital economy continues to grow, impact sourcing provides a pathway to connect motivated youth with sustainable work, while also helping global companies meet talent needs. This approach has the potential to reshape communities, promote economic inclusion, and create long-term social and economic benefits across the continent.
