Nestlé Calls for Alliance for Youth to address unemployment in the Middle East

In a region where youth unemployment rates reach 27%, Nestlé Middle East is calling for an Alliance for Youth to bring together as many entities as possible to help young people enhance their skills and develop careers that improve their lives and reflect on the general well-being of their communities. 

“We are calling for an Alliance for Youth in the Middle East because we know from experience in other regions that our efforts can have a bigger social impact through partnerships and collaboration,” said Nestlé Middle East Chairman and CEO Yves Manghardt. “Our objective is to mobilize companies that are determined to play a positive role in getting young people opportunities for internships, career advising and career training.”

The world’s leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company is this year the official Creating Shared Value partner atTa’atheer, the 13^th edition of the CSR Summit in Dubai, where it is hosting a Youth Collaboration Zone session on May 22^nd. It features presentations and discussion groups led by a number of panelists including representatives from NGOs such as Education for Employment and Young Arab Leaders, companies such as Mohebi Logistics, Publicis, Nielsen, ENGIE, L’Oréal and ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, which publishes the renowned annual Arab Youth Survey.

“This is the eighth year that we publish the Arab Youth Survey, and if there has been one constant over this time, it has been employment, or rather the lack of it,” said Sunil John, CEO ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. “There are 200 million young people in the Middle East and North Africa; always spirited, often frustrated, they are the region’s biggest dividend, a wellspring of untapped potential and a net benefit to the region and the world.”

Nestlé’s efforts fall in line with the company’s commitment to “Foster Opportunities for Youth,” published in its first Nestlé in Society report for the Middle East in 2015.

In the past five years, Nestlé Middle East recruited more than 1,700 young people under 30 years old. Today, one third of its employees in the region are in this age bracket.

Expanding its recently launched Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative by calling for an Alliance for Youth aims to replicate in the region the success of the European Alliance for Youth Initiative, which has already helped 50,000 people secure jobs and training opportunities across more than 200 participating companies since 2014.

Companies can participate by opening doors for internships, career trainings and career advising for youth. For more information, interested parties can email [email protected].