The youth population, aged 12 to 24, has reached a historical high of 1.5 billion. They are the parents, workers, leaders and entrepreneurs making an impact today, and who will be responsible for the economic and social development in the future.  Many youth around the globe face persistently high rates of unemployment, and are turning to self-employment and entrepreneurship in order to create their own jobs. 

Youth entrepreneurship and microenterprise development initiatives around the globe are bringing resources and expertise to bear on global development challenges– building on traditional sources of mentorship and guidance, and offering tailored services and products to emerging entrepreneurs. They offer customized training and adapted financial services, while facilitating business opportunities that foster productive economic engagement, financial independence and positive empowerment for young people. 

The global Youth Microenterprise Conference will bring together youth, development policy makers, and experienced practitioners in the fields of education, microenterprise development and youth entrepreneurship to:

• Better understand the specific challenges young entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs face
• Share good practices and brainstorm ideas for supporting youth microenterprise development
• Build capacity for serving youth in the 21st Century
• Form partnerships for generating more resources and expertise to meet global challenges facing youth

This interactive event will allow presenters and participants to explore priorities, challenges, and ideas on how to reduce the poverty, vulnerability, and unemployment many youth experience around the world. We welcome your involvement, and look forward to  facilitating a dynamic event that serves to improve the livelihoods of youth worldwide.

The Global Youth Microenterprise Conference is being organized by Making Cents International.