Enhancing active labour market programmes for improved youth livelihoods : a study of unemployed graduate youth in Botswana

Abstract

This thesis is based on a doctoral study that aimed to explore the livelihood challenges and strategies of unemployed graduate youth in Botswana and the extent to which current active labour market programmes in the country take these challenges into consideration. The study’s focus was informed by a wide body of existing research showing high levels of graduate youth unemployment rates in the country’s heavy investment in various types of youth-focused active labour market programmes. The main research question was: What are the livelihood challenges of unemployed graduate youth in Botswana, and to what extent do ALMPs adequately address the challenges? It specifically aimed: 1. To explore the livelihood assets that unemployed graduate youth possess in Botswana. 2. To explore the unemployment experiences of unemployed graduate youth. 3. To explore the subjective meaning the unemployed graduate youth attach to their unemployment experiences. 4. To illuminate the main livelihood challenges and strategies employed by unemployed graduate youth. 5. To explore the perceived effectiveness of current youth-oriented ALMPs in addressing graduate youth’s livelihood challenges and in improving the livelihood strategies that the young unemployed graduates adopt. 6. To make recommendations for improved livelihood and employment outcomes of unemployed graduate youth in Botswana.

To achieve its objectives, the study adopted a qualitative research design. It drew data from the following three main sources: (i) A document review that entailed an in-depth review of policy and operational documents of government and other national institutions tasked with enhancing youth employment and overall youth development and empowerment in Botswana; (ii) key informant interviews with public sector stakeholders working in the broad areas of youth employment and development; and (ii) focus group discussions with unemployed and employed young people aged 20–29 years, the age bracket shown to be the most affected by unemployment among youth in the country. The focus group discussions were conducted in three geographical settings, namely an urban area (Gaborone, the capital of Botswana), an urban village (Kanye) and a peri-urban area (Oodi/Modipane).

Theoretically, the study was guided by the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, which posits that there are different material, social, tangible, and intangible assets that poor and vulnerable individuals and households possess and serve as a potential capital base for various production streams to create livelihoods. The framework is used throughout the thesis and the analytical and presentation framework. The key findings of the study are as follows:  By virtue of being graduates, unemployed graduate youth are in possession of some form of human capital, with the lowest educational qualification being a post-secondary certificate. These young people are, however, constrained in terms of social, financial, natural, and physical capital. This, among other things, hampers the potential to venture into self-employment or entrepreneurship in cases where they face challenges with getting formal sector employment.  Young graduate youth’s experiences of being unemployed can be broadly expressed in terms of economic, social, and psychological points of view. In terms of the sustainable livelihood capitals, it can be concluded that most of the experiences are propelled by the young people’s limited financial and social capital.  The subjective meaning that young unemployed graduates attach to their unemployment status implicitly revolves around their limited financial capital assets and is seen as negatively straining social capital assets.  In terms of livelihood strategies, the findings suggest that while some extremes, such as involvement in transactional and often intergenerational sexual relations, were noted, unemployed graduate youth in Botswana are generally resilient and draw on their agency as well as on their human and social capital, albeit limited, to cope. Reliance on family members and members of faith-based organizations is the main social capital drawn on, while hustling, which includes engagement in low-cost, informal sector activities, is the main human capital drawn on.  The overall view among graduate youth and key informant interviews is that the country's current active labour market programmes are not adequately effective. In the view of the young unemployed graduates, while some ALMPs enhance human capital skills, some are characterised by “unreasonable” requirements, such as possessing some capital that the young people do not necessarily have, specifically financial, natural and physical capital.

Other findings that were not necessarily related to the objectives but are nonetheless noteworthy are as follows:

 There is limited data for facilitating a robust analysis of graduate youth unemployment.  There are no subsidised employment programmes to curb youth unemployment. The study discovered that Botswana does not have subsidised employment programmes, which is one of the four types of ALMPs. The available ALMPs only offer (i) entrepreneurship promotion, (ii) employment services and (iii) training and skills development programmes.  There is a general failure to incorporate and include youth during decision-making to design and implement policies meant to develop and empower them. The study revealed that unemployed young people are excluded from participating in policymaking.  There is limited consultation and partnership between the government and the private sector in alleviating graduate youth unemployment. The government often excludes the private sector from policies and programmes designed and implemented to curb youth unemployment.

Recommendations Based on the study’s key findings, a number of recommendations for policy practice and future research are made and summarised as follows: Recommendations for policy and practice  Improve the quality and quantity of data available to drive national decision-making and resource allocation.  Consider developing and implementing a subsidised employment programme to curb graduate youth unemployment. Such type of ALMPs has been shown to be effective and reduce unemployment in some countries.  Make youth participation a central part of the design and implementation of ALMPs.  Policymakers should involve the private sector as stakeholders and implementing partners in addressing graduate youth unemployment.

Recommendations for further research  A national study on corruption as an inhibiting factor for graduates to transition from school to work.  A national study on the extent of transactional sexual relations in the graduate youth unemployment arena.  A broader and national mixed-method study on the sociological aspects of graduate youth unemployment.