Organization:

Name:Education For Employment

Acronym:EFE

Description:
EFE is an affiliated network of locally-run non-profit organizations in MENA that provides youth with training in vocational and professional skills in high demand by the local labor market, and links graduates to jobs. To promote job creation and an alternative pathway to economic opportunity, EFE is piloting youth entrepreneurship programs.

Stakeholder(s):

• MENA: Middle East and North Africa


• EFE Graduates: Graduates of EFE's programs have access to the EFE alumni network, which offers opportunities for continuing professional development, civic engagement and leadership, mentoring, networking, and international exchange.


• Governments: To increase its impact and influence systemic change, EFE works with governments and public education institutions to implement youth employability programs.


• Public Education Institutions


• EFE Network: The EFE Network is comprised of locally-run affiliates in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Yemen, with organizations in Spain and the United States that support the regional affiliates through systems, partnerships, program development, and outreach.


• Egypt


• Jordan


• Morocco


• Palestine


• Tunisia


• Yemen


• Spain


• United States


• Arab Youth: Why Arab Youth Employment? MENA has the largest youth population in the world - double the global average - and this presents a unique opportunity for the regional economy to benefit from young energy and talent. Despite the immense potential of the region's youth, MENA has the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, averaging above 25% regionally with unemployment among certain groups exceeding 60%, and 87% of CEOs in the Middle East believe that the limited supply of candidates with the right skills presents the biggest organizational challenge in the near-term. One of the key contributors to the record high youth unemployment rates in MENA is mismatch between the skills taught in local education systems and the needs of the labor market. Social and gender divides often intensify this labor mismatch. Private-sector employers often are reluctant to hire youth from marginalized socioeconomic backgrounds, and youth in turn do not trust that the system will give them a fair chance. Young women, despite attaining higher levels of education, are especially vulnerable. In some MENA countries the unemployment rate among university-educated women is three to eight times that of university-educated men. Young people need the opportunity to develop the skills that employers seek. They also need to believe that they can add significant value to the companies they work for, and the confidence brought by hands-on learning and on-the-job training. EFE helps young women and men by providing the training they need to secure a job and by creating ongoing opportunities for young women and men to develop their professional skills, build social capital, and engage in their communities. Through thought leadership and partnerships with the private sector and educational institutions and regional reach, EFE is also working to enhance how educational institutions prepare youth for the workforce, and to change attitudes of educators, youth and employers.


• EFE Global Board of Directors


• Ronald Bruder: Founder, Chair of the Board


• Badr Jafar: Managing Director, the Crescent Group; President, Crescent Petroleum


• Said Aidi: Former Minister of Vocational Training and Employment, Interim Government of Tunisia


• Samer Khoury: Executive Vice President, Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC)


• David Arkless: Founder & Chairman of ArkLight Consulting and Founder of The Future Work Consortium


• Aldo Olcese: Chairman, Fincorp Mediacion


• Waleed Al-Banawi: Director, Banawi Industrial Group


• Donna E. Shalala: President, University of Miami; Professor of Political Science


• Omar Chaabi: Executive Vice President of YNNA Holding (the Chaabi Group)


• Jeffrey Smith: Partner, Arnold & Porter, LLP


• Dr. Alton Frye: Presidential Senior Fellow Emeritus, Former president of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C


• John Studzinski: Senior Managing Director, Blackstone Group


• Dr. Shibley Telhami: Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, University of Maryland, College Park


• EFE Global Team


• Jamie McAuliffe: President and CEO


• Jasmine Nahhas di Florio: Vice President, Strategy and Partnerships


• Taleb Salhab: Vice President, Programs and Affiliate Services


• Elizabeth VanDerWoude: Director of Finance


• Brad Kushner: Chief Financial Officer


• Noor Shoufani: Program Manager


• Pia Saunders: Measuring and Evaluation Manager


• Mary Eleanor "Mariel" Davis: Communications & Partnerships Manager


• Sarah Little: Program Associate


• Elyse Inguanti: Program Assistant