NAIROBI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- African countries must harness the creativity and entrepreneurial skills of their youth to boost revitalization of rapidly growing cities, a senior World Bank official said on Tuesday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing UN-Habitat Governing Council in Nairobi, Mahmoud Mohieldin, the World Bank Senior Vice President for the 2030 Development Agenda said that involvement of youth in a range of projects like waste management, community policing and green transportation will hasten urban renewal in Africa.
"Governments in the African continent must tap into innovations powered by the youth to improve service delivery, security and environment in cities," said Mohieldin.
He added that demographic dividends in Sub-Saharan Africa can be harnessed to promote sustainable urbanization in the world's second largest continent.
"African cities are growing rapidly and the youth comprise the bulk of their inhabitants. There is need to create job opportunities for these youth to enhance their capacity to solve the challenge of pollution and crime in cities," Mohieldin said.
The World Bank is encouraging African governments to invest in physical infrastructure alongside social amenities in cities as a means to solve urban poverty.
Mohieldin noted that infrastructure projects like roads, water and sewerage systems as well as housing will create additional jobs for the youth.
"Well functioning cities will incentivize the youth to work harder and get involved in programs that addresses poverty, crime and environmental pollution," said Mohieldin.
He proposed enactment of friendly policies to ensure the youth are an integral part of implementation of a new urban agenda for Africa.
The mass exodus of African youth into cities in search of greener pasture is to blame for growth of unplanned settlements and attendant social ills.
Margaret Koli, a member of UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board said that high youth unemployment in urban centers across Sub-Saharan Africa deserves urgent attention from governments and multilateral agencies.
"We can only have smart and livable cities in this continent if the youth are empowered socially and economically," said Koli adding that vocational training and active engagement of youth in civic affairs is key to realize urban renewal in Africa.
