Overview : Outcome 1 of the UNDP Strategic Plan gives expression to UNDP’s commitment to eradicate poverty and ensures that no one is left behind by focusing on reaching the furthest behind first. In the South African context those that have been left behind are young people. Unemployment can be identified as one of the wicked problems South Africa has been grappling with. for two decades Long term unemployment is deeply demoralizing and in the South Africa context is one of bottlenecks threatening achievement of SDGs. Failing to deal with youth unemployment today damages prospect of their future. One of the hallmarks of the Strategic Plan is how UNDP and other partners support countries to address systemic or structural challenges that would otherwise remain unresolved and UNDP recognizes that addressing such complex and development challenges will require inputs and expertise from within United Nation Development System and beyond. There are diverging views on the emerging digital economy – that on the one hand it provides job opportunities, while on the other hand it takes jobs away. It is therefore in this light that UNDP requires the services of a consultancy firm or research organisation to conduct a diagnosis of the opportunities and threats provided by the digital economy in South Africa and identify training and employment opportunities for young people in the short and medium term. In this regard, services of an Istitution/Company is required to conduct diagnosis of the digital economy in South Africa focusing on digital platforms and payments, and regulation required in the digital world, as well as youth digital skills and market analysis. |