The total budget of the inclusive growth programme amounted to $15.5 million, with 85 percent ($13.2 million) of this spent to date.
million US$
FIGURE 2: Budget and expenditure: Inclusive growth portfolio, 2018‑2021 Budget
8
Expenditure
SDG and development planning Social protection Youth employment support 3%
6.7
6
4.9
4 3.3
2
2.8 2.6
2.8 2.6
3.1
30%
Breakdown of expenditure by thematic area
67%
0
2018
2019
2020
2021
Source: UNDP Corporate Planning System (Atlas) As of 19 January 2022
Finding 4. UNDP strategically positioned itself to work on youth skills development and entrepreneurship in partnership with the Government and private sector. UNDP support to youth and women’s employment initiatives, through skills development and job placement, was recognized by national counterparts. While contributing to sustaining livelihoods and businesses, the scope of the interventions and results has been limited by inadequate resources, training and placement strategies and lack of formal monitoring mechanisms. Nigeria’s high rates of youth unemployment are not only driven by a lack of opportunities, but also by the fact that many job seekers do not have the skills required by employers.67 Federal and state governments are increasing efforts to address this issue through various employment support programmes. As part of these efforts, UNDP supported employment promotion, especially for youth and women, through two initiatives.68 The UNDP approach was to provide technical support (including ensuring due process for the selection of beneficiaries) and financial support through state government‑led employment mechanisms. UNDP contributed to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), established by the State Government in 2016 to implement programmes including the Lagos State Employability Support Programme (LSESP), and provide financial support and capacity‑building to promote jobs, wealth creation and employment for residents of Lagos State. While LSETF operates with a wide range of development partners, UNDP strategically positioned itself on youth skills development and support to MSMEs.
67
68
Stears Business (2021) Nigeria’s youth unemployment problem. https://www.stearsng.com/article/ nigerias‑youth‑unemployment‑problem. The Lagos State employability support programme: Phase 1 covering 2017‑2020 and Phase 2, 2020‑2022, and the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme 2021.
Chapter 2. Findings
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