SAP and UNICEF have announced a new global partnership to provide quality education, life skills and job skills training to young people in disadvantaged communities, preparing them for decent work and active citizenship.

Announced at an event taking place at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the three-year partnership will bring together businesses, governments and non-governmental organisations to build sustainable education models. The partnership will focus on workforce inclusion initiatives to help young people thrive and provide organisations with a prepared workforce.

More than one in five young people today are neither in employment, education or training. Many more are not learning the skills they need to seek decent employment, as today’s rapidly changing economy demands increasingly specialised skills.

“For young people, the path to a successful future goes through quality education that equips them – and empowers them – with the skills they need to thrive in today’s workforce,” said UNICEF executive director, Henrietta Fore. “Young people are some of the world’s best creatives, enthusiasts and thinkers. We are excited to work with SAP to harness young people’s energy and ideas and help them contribute to their economies and societies.”