SA Youth Ecosystem Campaign

Youth development actors of the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN) have launched the SA Youth Ecosystem Campaign to unite the diverse players in the youth development ecosystem. The NPMN is a ‘network of networks’ aimed at facilitating the successful transition of young people into and through the labour market. SALDRU leads sub-committee 2 of the NPMN. Operating within the broader Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) framework, this sub-committee focuses specifically on ecosystem mapping to create a comprehensive picture of the stakeholders, programmes, and services that shape young people's journeys from learning to earning. SALDRU’s Youth Explorer serves as the key platform for housing, displaying, and distributing a database of support services available to young people. Through sharing of information to various NPMN partner organisations, the Explorer ensures that a unique, verified set of ecosystem information becomes accessible across platforms. As such, the database can guide both young people and the organisations supporting them.

Image: Labour centres of the Department of Employment and Labour mapped on the Youth Explorer, along with detailed information for each centre. Credit: Youth Explorer.

Alongside SALDRU, the SA Youth Ecosystem Campaign brings together the following organisations to showcase the tools and work being undertaken:

• PYEI - The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention is South Africa's most comprehensive effort to address the youth unemployment crisis, aiming to transition young people successfully from learning to earning.
• Bertha Centre - The first academic centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship, at the UCT Graduate School of Business.
• Harambee - A South African nonprofit addressing the youth unemployment crisis by connecting employers to first-time job seekers through a mobile-based network.
• ANDE - The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs is a global network supporting small and growing businesses in developing economies.
• YD Co-Lab - The Youth Development Collaboration Lab is a collaborative network of organisations working to advance youth development and empowerment in South Africa.
• YoMobi - A digital platform developed with UNICEF and PwC support to enhance civil society organisations' efforts in addressing youth unemployment through micro-learning and engagement activities.
• Yubuntu - An online professional learning community that improves teaching quality in South Africa through discussions, collaborations and access to resources.

Follow the campaign as we share resources, tools, and ways to strengthen our collective impact every #EcosystemWednesday, starting from the 6^th of August and ending on the 3^rd of September. Community Explorer: Posts | LinkedIn

Join our webinars on the 27^th of August and 3^rd of September 2025 from 14h00 - 15h30 where organisations will share their tools and resources.  Register here:  https://lnkd.in/d8iDTUGD