Has the sustainable development goal of reducing the proportion of youths not in education, employment or training by 2020 been met in Africa?

ABSTRACT The consequences of growing up deprived of critical resources vital for well-being and human development jeopardises the fulfilment of potential in the lives of youths, thereby creating hurdles in access to education, training or the labour market, consequently leading to higher rates of youths that are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, Target 8.6 aimed to substantially reduce the proportion of NEET by 2020. This study aims to find out if the SDG’s target of substantially reducing NEET by 2020 was fulfilled in Africa. If not, what are the factors affecting NEET in Africa? Descriptive statistics, Ordinary Least Squares and Two-Stage Least Square methods have been used. Results indicate that Africa stalls behind and is far from reducing NEET. Self-employment is the highest employer of youths and conversely exacerbates the rates of NEET. Gender parity index, access to the internet and irrigation services reduce NEET rates. Good institutional quality is critical because institutions are policymakers and service providers. Policies should support literacy, entrepreneurial and digital skills training to boost self-employment. Child marriage should be prohibited. Youths can be supported by securing funds from indirect taxes. Policymakers should work closely with youths to understand their needs and capacities.