Understanding systems change and addressing inequality
23 Feb 2021
Insights > Impact is a monthly digest of the most insightful articles we’re reading. Time is scarce, so we’ve summarised the articles for you and shared our key takeaways – focussing on the pieces we found to be most relevant and actionable.
LinkedIn to Job Opportunities: Experimental Evidence from Job Readiness Training
09 Feb 2021
This study explores the running of the first randomised evaluation of training work-seekers to join and use online professional networking platforms.
Siyakha Youth Assets Study: Developing Youth Assets for Employability
This study seeks to build evidence, based on what is already being implemented to address the challenge of what works in fostering better employment outcomes for young people who struggle to navigate labour market pathways.
Tilting towards equality: Can nudges improve gender inclusion?
08 Feb 2021
In the fight for greater gender equality and inclusion, governments, NGOs and other stakeholders are increasingly recognising the power of nudges to change human behaviour. The results are promising.
Job Search and Hiring with Two-sided Limited Information about Workseekers’ Skills
04 Feb 2021
This study shows that assessing work-seekers’ skills in multiple domains, giving them the assessment results, and helping them to credibly share the results with firms increases their employment and earnings.
Where is the Office?
28 Jan 2021
Maryana Iskander, CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, shares her perspective around adapting to new ways of work in Episode 3 of Echo Radio’s “Where is the office?”.
Free training videos launched as part of safe back2work campaign
21 Jan 2021
As thousands of South Africans return to work from the far reaches of the country and beyond, workplace safety takes the spotlight. Anticipating this need, the Return2Work Initiative has launched a range of punchy and accessible safe back2work videos.
The social transformer
09 Dec 2020
Harambee’s Marzanne Collins believes technology can play a significant part in solving youth unemployment.
Covid-19: Education and labour market impact
03 Dec 2020
At Harambee we are committed to keeping you safe, smart and kind. We’re producing a monthly digest of the most insightful articles on youth employment we’re reading, and have focused on the pieces we found to be most relevant and actionable. Time is scarce, so we’ve summarised the articles for you and shared our key takeaways.
How a social compact is creating jobs in Gauteng
09 Nov 2020
Job creation at scale is best achieved in growth sectors. The digital economy continues to grow despite the current global recession, and we need to find ways to harness the opportunities this presents.
Digital economy: What kinds of jobs can help fuel economic recovery and growth?
04 Nov 2020
At least 3 million jobs have been lost this year and labour market participation by young adults has dropped a staggering 12 percentage points to just below 16%. If job losses persist, we will have lost a decade’s worth of job growth in only six months.
The Harambee Mapping of Digital and ICT Roles and Demand for South Africa Survey
03 Nov 2020
Take a deep dive into the critical roles to support growth in the digital economy, as well as the size and nature of offshoring of digital demand outside of South Africa.
The experience of South Africans during lockdown
28 Oct 2020
At Harambee we are committed to keeping you safe, smart and kind. We’re producing a monthly digest of the most insightful articles on youth employment we’re reading, and have focused on the pieces we found to be most relevant and actionable. Time is scarce, so we’ve summarised the articles for you and shared our key takeaways.
“Side hustle” is not a swear word: How to make gigs work for young Africans
18 Oct 2020
Across the African continent, the concept of a “side hustle” is not new. This article explores the informal ‘side’ work that young people engage in to make ends meet. Ir advocates that side hustles, given their increasing presence in lives (and economies) across the world, can no longer be relegated to the margins of institutional and regulatory systems.
Emerging stronger from a crisis
12 Oct 2020
Stanford Social Innovation Review includes Harambee as they share battle-tested insights that can help social enterprises increase their impact as they navigate severe crises like COVID-19.
S4YE Knowledge Brief: How are youth employment programs adapting to COVID‒19?
08 Oct 2020
The World Bank’s Solutions4Youth Employment (S4YE) publication featured Harambee in their recent Knowledge Brief; highlight different ways in which youth employment projects, like Harambee, are adapting their strategies and delivery models in response to COVID‒19.
COVID-19 Economic Recovery Insights
28 Sep 2020
At Harambee we are committed to keeping you safe, smart and kind. We’re producing a monthly digest of the most insightful articles on youth employment we’re reading, and have focused on the pieces we found to be most relevant and actionable. Time is scarce, so we’ve summarised the articles for you and shared our key takeaways.
Social entrepreneurs are first responders to the COVID-19 crisis. This is why they need support
17 Sep 2020
In the COVID-19 crisis, social innovators and entrepreneurs, like Harambee, have once again shown their capacity to act as first responders, bringing affordable healthcare to those in need, protecting jobs and providing emergency relief swiftly.
When the Phone Rang, Harambee Answered – Over 1 Million Times: Partnering with Government in Complex and Uncertain Times
01 Sep 2020
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with face-to-face services largely suspended, there was an unanticipated need to amplify government infrastructure through alternative channels that were accessible and affordable to its youth and other vulnerable citizens.
August Women’s Month Insights
19 Aug 2020
At Harambee we are committed to keeping you safe, smart and kind. We’re producing a monthly digest of the most insightful articles on youth employment we’re reading, and have focused on the pieces we found to be most relevant and actionable. Time is scarce, so we’ve summarised the articles for you and shared our key takeaways.
A survey shows young women are bearing the brunt of Covid-19 unemployment
13 Aug 2020
Of the three million job losses in South Africa as a result of Covid-19, two million were held by women. While the deck has always been stacked against women, Covid-19 exposes the staggering inequalities and barriers that women face in finding, and keeping, work.
Woman who leads 40 engineers and developers explains why we should teach girls about tech bravery
12 Aug 2020
Marzanne Collins is the chief information officer of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, here she talks about her love for analytics and her desire to see more women in technology.
Eight top tips on scaling a social enterprise through mass disruption
Harambee’s Lebo Nke is featured alongside voices from leading social enterprises on how to navigate times of mass disruption.
The fight for access – digital and data light ways to connect those who are hard to reach
27 Jul 2020
At Harambee we are committed to keeping you safe, smart and kind. We’re producing a monthly digest of the most insightful articles on youth employment we’re reading, and have focused on the pieces we found to be most relevant and actionable. Time is scarce, so we’ve summarised the articles for you and shared our key takeaways.
‘Generation Unlimited’ expands digital learning and work skills opportunities for young people in South Africa
15 Jul 2020
UNICEF, UNDP, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Future Africa at University of Pretoria, SuperSport Let’s Play, Afrika Tikkun join forces with young people to reimagine a better future post COVID-19.
The Future of Work: 5 Lessons Ring True As Harambee Enters its 10th year
13 Jul 2020
Accelerated by a global health pandemic, the “future of work” has arrived unannounced and before many were ready. To the paralysis of fear, these lessons offer the balm of action backed by evidence.
Using data to power scale
09 Jul 2020
Harambee recognised for embracing big data, small data, lean data, data privacy and machine learning trends to evolve around them at a rapid pace.
Harambee partners with the Solidarity fund
06 Jul 2020
Harambee has partnered with the Solidarity fund on the “Citizens in Solidarity” campaign. Aimed at board-based behaviour change across all sectors of society, the campaign encourages South Africans to unite and do their part to overcome the pandemic we’re facing.
6 Lessons Learned Moving from In-Person to Mobile Learning
30 Jun 2020
Sometimes you set your own audacious goal and sometimes your hand is forced by a once-in-a-100-year pandemic.
Six Innovators Pivoting to Face COVID-19
26 Jun 2020
USAID Development Innovation Ventures showcase Harambee’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown alongside other organisations from across the world who are working hard to pivot and create impact during this global crisis.
Falling Through the Cracks – SMES & Informal Workers
19 Jun 2020
At Harambee we are committed to keeping you safe, smart and kind. We’re producing a monthly digest of the most insightful articles on youth employment we’re reading, and have focused on the pieces we found to be most relevant and actionable. Time is scarce, so we’ve summarised the articles for you and shared our key takeaways.
Lift up young people’s voices: Tuzatsinda
11 Jun 2020
Harambee Rwanda, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Rwanda Development Board and Kigali Employment Service Centre, launched the youth-focused Tuzatsinda campaign in April 2020.
Prospects of work for the lockdown generation
09 Jun 2020
We must act to keep young people from falling further into poverty and being permanently locked out of the economy.
Return2Work: Help to re-open your business safely and legally
26 May 2020
Return2Work.co.za is an online tool to help businesses of all sizes re-open safely and legally, and to stay open.
Increasing digital platform use to help youth find work
19 May 2020
We explore platform use in developing economies and present new data on a low-cost, successful way to teach youth how to use these platforms.
Young people are telling us what they need, we have to listen
08 May 2020
Youth on the world’s youngest continent have something to say during the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis: “Don’t just talk at us, talk with us and listen to what we need.”
Funzi mobile learning course to adapt and thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic
07 May 2020
A case study on Harambee’s collaboration with Funzi, mentioning the partnership as one of the success factors in giving South Africa a head start on addressing misinformation at a community level.
2020 World changing ideas competition cites Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
29 Apr 2020
Fast Company cites innovation of Harambee’s free platform for youth, which is now also supporting response efforts for COVID-19.
United Nations partner to launch data-lite mobile Covid learning program
08 Apr 2020
COVID-19: Adapt and Thrive, a data-lite, mobile education program that launched this week in South Africa will be scaled across the continent by the United Nations.
Halting human contact: how social enterprises are rethinking their business models during Covid-19
03 Apr 2020
What does the COVID-19 lockdown mean for social enterprises that usually work directly with vulnerable people and rely on face-to-face communication?
Harambee’s 5 Days, 5 Surprises
23 Mar 2020
Last week, Harambee launched our top 10 actions in response to COVID-19 guided by three simple rules to Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Kind. In 5 days, we learned from 5 surprises:
Hearing from Harambee: Our Top 10 Actions for COVID-19
15 Mar 2020
As the global response to COVID-19 accelerates, Harambee is being guided by the simple rules of Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Kind and here are 10 actions we are taking.
Women who work for work; a real International Women’s Day celebration
08 Mar 2020
Even with an increased focus on legislation and diversity in the workplace, there are still significant differences in women’s and men’s ability to access economic opportunities.
Cyril Ramaphosa is on the right track with youth unemployment
25 Feb 2020
The government is listening to the experts on how to better prepare young people for the job market.
Youth employment in KZN gets a boost with appointment of new leadership at Harambee
24 Feb 2020
Tracey Swart, highly respected business leader with more than 20 years of experience, has joined Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator to assume leadership of the KZN business development team.
How can we get more young people working?
12 Feb 2020
We urgently need new ways of moving young people along non-linear, zig-zagging and increasingly short-term journeys from school to work.
We must equip young people to bounce back into work
04 Nov 2019
Conventional wisdom assumes that if a young person can just get a first job, they will stay in work. Recent research shows this…
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What does nail polish and weightlifting have to do with inclusion?
‘If you can just get more skills, you’ll have a leg up on opportunity.’ This familiar promise is not holding true for a…
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How 18 minutes changed a life, the power of empathy
The employment conditions in South Africa are bleak. So bleak, in fact, that there’s an overall unemployment rate of 27%. That rate hits…
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LinkedIn to Job Opportunities: Experimental Evidence from Job Training in South Africa
20 Sep 2019
In 2016, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner shot videos like this to present his company’s ambitious vision for a global “Economic Graph” mapping every worker, company,…
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5 lessons about evolving talent to drive impact at scale
The road to impact at scale is a nonlinear, complicated one! This just released report from Scaling Pathways, a partnership between the Skoll Foundation, USAID,…
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Reduce gender penalties to level the playing field for jobs
National Women’s Day (9 August) celebrates the courageous women of 1956 who fought for equality and freedom in South Africa. While progress has …
New funding to grow jobs and work experiences for work-seekers
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator and LGT Venture Philanthropy have entered into a partnership that will support Harambee’s …
Social impact bonds addressing youth unemployment
In the nascent impact bonds market, employment is one of the most popular sectors, representing nearly a third of the deals contracted globally. After…
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The Kasinomic Entreprevolution
24 Jun 2019
Unemployment has been declared a national crisis in South Africa. Half of the countries youth are unemployed. Can entrepreneurship provide the answer? The…
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It’s all about employability
03 Jun 2019
The numbers released last month by Stats SA remind us that we have an unemployment crisis in South Africa, especially among youngsters. More…
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Harambee wins the 2019 Conscious Companies Award
27 May 2019
In celebrating South Africa’s visionary companies and leaders committed to business as a force for good, Harambee received the 2019 Conscious Companies award…
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Why ‘signals’ can matter as much as skills in youth employment
15 May 2019
It’s the same story time after time. Employers report not being able to find the right talent because of a lack of skills…
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Helping young people engage with opportunities outside of the formal sector
At 54%, South Africa has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world. At the forefront of this battle is Harambee Youth Employment…
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High unemployment is a symptom of South Africa’s economic malaise
26 Apr 2019
After leaving school in 2006 Delvia Mbalati spent the next 12 years looking for a job. Her search took her from her village in…
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Accelerating english through binge watching
05 Apr 2019
“One language is poverty,” Annah told us. “Two languages is wealth,” she said, breaking into a smile. For a young woman who has…
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Harambee wins the 2019 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship
01 Apr 2019
The Skoll Foundation announced today that Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator has received the 2019 Skoll Award…
Think you’re too small to become a top employer? Think again!
14 Mar 2019
Becoming an employer of choice is not only for large companies and corporations, nor is it as unattainable as you might…
Driving inclusive economic participation
01 Mar 2019
The Premier’s Service Excellence Awards that took place on 28 February 2019 recognise dynamic, high impact, responsive…
The cost of looking for work
We took a peek at the ITU’s (International Telecommunication Union – an agency of the UN) comparative price basket for a…
Getting to the meat of it – a demand for butchers
26 Feb 2019
Strange but true; there’s a demand in South African for butchers. This scarcity is in part driven by the high cost of a year-long…
Harambee disrupts South African BPO using impact sourcing
14 Feb 2019
Momentum around South Africa’s outsourcing sector continues in 2019, with that country’s BPO stakeholders charging…
Will AI be put to work for humankind – or will it be the other way around?
05 Feb 2019
It’s an overcast winter morning in Amsterdam and journalists from around the world are being herded into the Google…
Changing the System in 2019!
24 Jan 2019
Happy New Year from Harambee! As we gear up for the year ahead, we thank you for being on the journey of scale-up with us…
Partnership to equip 5,000 youth with digital skills
Key stakeholders in SA’s digital industries have partnered to create employment for youths. The organisations include…
10 steps to get young people working
28 Oct 2018
The summit, Accelerating Inclusive Youth Employment, which was hosted by Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator at…
We need to give youth a better deal in terms of jobs
22 Oct 2018
In a special message delivered on his behalf at the Accelerating Inclusive Youth Employment conference in Cape Town on…
7 ways to get young people working
04 Oct 2018
These seven insights are drawn from Breaking Barriers, a quarterly analysis that draws on data gained from our engagement…
Harambee is developing an alternative ‘Pathwaying Platform’
10 Aug 2018
In April, the annual Skoll World Forum brought together social entrepreneurs from around the world to discuss topics…
Google highlights our use of big data to solve youth unemployment
27 Jul 2018
On 25 July, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator was one of only two organisations featured on stage at the Google…
Three learnings for Harambee’s Lean Impact Pilot
25 Jul 2018
“We shifted our processes to focus on assessments that include – not exclude – and worked with employers to change their…
Harambee a ‘dating service’ that gets young South Africans into work
17 Jul 2018
Johannesburg – A few years ago, Thabo Ngwato’s job prospects looked bleak…
7th ‘most favourite’ brand in South Africa amongst low-income earners.
15 Jul 2018
A list that included Nike, Coca-Cola, Converse, KFC and SABMiller. We were the only non-consumer brand to receive this recognition.
Nominated for the 2018 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
This award recognises innovations that have already had significant, proven impact on some of the world’s most pressing problems.
RECOGNITION FOR OUR RESULTS
Harambee has been named a global trailblazer in customer experience innovation, receiving the CX Game Changer Award by Genesys®, the industry leader in…
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Global recognition for Harambee Contact Centre
01 May 2018
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator has been named a global trailblazer in customer experience innovation, receiving the…
Successfully bringing entry-level staff into an SME
15 Mar 2018
Small and medium businesses play an increasingly important role in improving the employment prospects of South Africa’s youth…
The art of recruitment for small businesses
09 Oct 2017
Many small business owners feel daunted at the prospect of hiring new staff, and with valid reasons…
Sisters are doing it for Barloworld Equipment
14 Aug 2017
“It’s not easy being a woman in a male dominated world but we are definitely going to make it!” This is the declaration of Mbali Dlalani…
Global Centre for Youth Employment Ideathon award
01 Jun 2017
From an open competition that saw 200 online submissions from 25 countries, 16 innovative ideas were selected by a panel…
Partnering with KFC to overcome barriers to youth unemployment
01 Sep 2016
KFC has been one of our anchor employers since 2014, with us providing candidates for team member roles such as kitchen workers…
Nomination for the Aspen Institute’s John P. McNulty Prize.
15 Sep 2015
This prize aims to galvanize efforts to address social, economic and political challenges by recognizing the very best in high…
2012
01 Jan 2012
By the end of the first year, Harambee has formed a public-private partnership and placed 750 unemployed youth into jobs with 6 more…
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