The Commonwealth Secretariat has signed an agreement with some of the world’s largest youth organisations to offer skills development to more than 250 million young people.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland signed a Memorandum of Understanding with eight heads and representatives of its partners that subscribe to the Commonwealth Alliance for Quality Youth Leadership.

The global youth organisations include; AIESEC, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (The Award), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO).

Others are World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA), World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Association (World YMCA).

Scotland said: "This Alliance was built to help us re-imagine education, creating services to our young people, which ensure they have all the practical support they need to be innovators, change makers and to truly take charge of their future.”

This agreement comes at a time when approximately 60 percent of the unemployed in Commonwealth countries are young people, particularly impacted by the pandemic. Millions more have experienced disruption to their schooling, making non-formal education and learning even more integral.

It includes commitments to work together to promote volunteerism, offer young people the practical experiences needed to compete in the labour market, create an environment where collaboration and innovation can thrive, and support the development of leadership and useful life skills.

The Prince Edward Earl of Wessex and Forfar, in a statement, said his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, was a great advocate of such opportunities and encouraged millions to experience personal achievement which need to reach millions of young people every year, now.

"This MoU represents a statement of intent and willingness by a number of youth organizations to dramatically improve the opportunities of young people throughout the Commonwealth to access non-formal education and learning,” he said.

During an intergenerational dialogue on the same day, Commonwealth regional youth representatives echoed the many challenges facing young people and made recommendations to address them.

This is among many results from the just concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that also saw over 1000 young people convene in the Commonwealth Youth Forum.