Innovation to Harness Youth Entrepreneurial Potential

Abstract

Youth face challenges like unemployment, poverty, career gloom, poor mentorship, resources shortage, including access to facilities and information. A small percentage of the millions of high school graduates continue with tertiary education. The untested and tried millions of youth possess potent innovation and creativity that could contribute to socio-economic transformation in general and more so for the transition of Southern African states. Some of these youth join the labor market and others become entrepreneurs for survival but lack skills, creativity, and innovation. Here the circular economy presents opportunities and gives a chance to exploit their innovation and creativity potential. Adopting an exploratory method and data collection from the extensive literature review, interviewing experts, and personal experience, the objective of this study is to deliberate how innovation can harness youth entrepreneurial potential for much needed social and economic development. Stakeholders' feedback and insights sync with the literature on circular economy and inclusive innovation.