Stanbic, Stats Botswana brainstorm on youth unemployment
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Soils of hope: Agriculture offers opportunities for youth, but barriers remain. PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
Addressing the participants over the weekend, Stanbic Bank Botswana Head of AcceleR8, Larona Makgoeng said youth unemployment remains a pertinent issue that the country is faced with, and yet it is this demographic that holds with it many new ideas and solutions for unlocking possibilities for a brighter future.
"In the current economic climate that we find ourselves in, it is important that we not only acknowledge but analyse and discover solutions towards economic challenges. As a bank, we firmly believe in collaborative efforts that have a meaningful impact in our communities,“ he said.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...