As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of World Youth Skills Day, we at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana office celebrate the boundless potential of young people to drive sustainable development, innovation, and inclusion in the digital age. This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,” resonates strongly with our vision: that digital transformation when guided by equity, ethics, and inclusion, can be a powerful enabler of human development and an accelerator of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At UNDP, we are committed to ensuring that AI and digital innovation work for people and the planet. As emphasized in the 2025 Human Development Report which explores the “AI paradox,” we must balance the transformative potential of AI with the very real risks it presents, from exclusion and bias to misinformation and widening inequalities. UNDP is also investing in its internal workforce with new knowledge and tools through a dedicated course: “Strengthening AI Foundations for Development,” equipping UNDP staff with the tools to ethically and effectively apply AI in programming in policymaking and on-the-ground innovation. In Ghana, we’re proud to support building inclusive AI ecosystems, strengthening national capabilities, and facilitating the implementation of AI-driven solutions that respond to development challenges through our work.
Investing in Youth: Skills, Innovation, and Opportunity
With over 1.2 billion young people aged 15–24 globally—many of whom live in developing countries—investing in youth digital capabilities is not just a necessity, but an imperative for inclusive growth. Across our portfolios, we are actively supporting youth through initiatives that combine innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills for the future.
- Young Africa Innovates Programme (Ghana): Funded by the Mastercard Foundation, this flagship initiative supports youth-led solutions to development challenges across Ghana. From digital health to green technologies, young innovators are receiving technical support, mentorship, and funding to bring their ideas and products to life and scale their impact. By nurturing creative ideas and offering technical, financial, and mentorship support, the programme prepares young people for the digital economy.
- UNIPOD (UNDP Innovation Podium): A high-tech makerspace designed to bridge academia and industry, and support the ideation, prototyping, and scaling of youth-led innovations.
- 3iC Challenge (Inclusive Insurance Innovation Challenge): Focused on developing innovative insurance solutions, this challenge puts young people at the heart of driving financial inclusion, leveraging digital tools and AI to reach underserved populations.
- Nimdie Series: A virtual (and in-person) learning initiative that delivers entrepreneurship and skills development training across Ghana. This platform is particularly impactful in bridging the urban-rural divide, providing access to digital knowledge for youth regardless of location.
These initiatives underscore UNDP’s unwavering commitment to empowering youth with the tools, platforms, and opportunities they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Artificial Intelligence holds vast potential to amplify these efforts, offering unprecedented opportunities for scaling innovation, expanding access, and accelerating impact.
Equitable AI for Inclusive Futures
As we look to the future, it is vital that youth are not just users of AI, but also creators, innovators, and leaders in shaping it. This means embedding principles of equity, ethics, and sustainability in AI systems and ensuring that access to AI tools and training is broad-based and inclusive.
UNDP Ghana’s work supports not only SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), but also aligns with Ghana’s Digital Economy Policy, which prioritizes skills development, innovation hubs, and local tech talent.
The 10th anniversary of World Youth Skills Day is a timely reminder: with the right investments, partnerships, and enabling environments, young people can harness the power of AI to solve pressing challenges, unlock opportunities, and build a more inclusive and resilient world.
At UNDP, we are proud to stand with youth in this journey, fostering the digital skills, mindset, and momentum to create the future we want.
“Artificial Intelligence holds vast potential to amplify youth empowerment—offering unprecedented opportunities to scale innovation, expand access, and accelerate impact. But to truly harness this potential, young people must not only be equipped with digital skills, but they must also be empowered to shape AI as creators, innovators, and ethical leaders.”
Leave feedback about this