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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

New economy: a partnership for providing youth from West Africa with the data-driven skills required to partake in the global economy

    Description
    Description
    Blossom Academy accomplishes transformational outcomes through a live, cohort-based learning experience. The skills-based curriculum is designed in collaboration with industry partners and pedagogically is reflective of real-world experience. Students will be able to apply analytical knowledge and will also receive coaching in critical soft skills. The majority of this experience is delivered virtually, which enables Blossom Academy to leverage technology for quick, accurate fellow assessments. This 6-month program is intended for youth from West Africa - starting from Ghana - who wants to pursue a career in data science or launch a data-driven startup.
    Implementation of the Project/Activity

    In consultation with employers across industries, Blossom Academy identified a gap in skilled, available young people in the area of Data Analytics. Data Analytics came up as a job in high demand across industries and one in which competency required is clearly demonstrated. To design an effective curriculum, Blossom Academy works with select businesses to understand their data-related deficiencies. In return, business obtain access to graduates. Blossom Academy also works with educational partners, such as DataCamp, to repurpose their educational resources for their program.
    Blossom Academy recruits applicants with backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, and software engineering. This approach - coupled with competitive peer learning, mentor-based learning, and project-based experience - contributes to sustainable capacity building in our 6-month training program. Additionally, 70% of the program is facilitated in virtual classrooms, which enables Blossom Academy to leverage technology for quick, accurate student assessments. The in-person lectures are facilitated by leading data scientists who provide knowledge support. Since Blossom Academy believes in creating self-sufficient data-driven leaders, professional readiness workshops are delivered for achieving effectiveness.
    Blossom Academy's business model ensures the organization remains investing in the students, which is supported by alumni services and continuous education. For this reason, Blossom Academy cultivates strategic partnerships with businesses and universities to help fulfill its mission of connecting talented young people across Africa to the global economy.

    Partners
    Blossom Academy; DataC Microsoft

    Goal 8

    Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

    Goal 8

    8.1

    Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries
    8.1.1

    Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita

    8.2

    Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

    8.2.1

    Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person

    8.3

    Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

    8.3.1

    Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex

    8.4

    Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead

    8.4.1

    Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

    8.4.2

    Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP

    8.5

    By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
    8.5.1

    Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities

    8.5.2

    Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

    8.6

    By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
    8.6.1

    Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training

    8.7

    Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms

    8.7.1

    Proportion and number of children aged 5‑17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age

    8.8

    Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment

    8.8.1

    Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status

    8.8.2

    Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status

    8.9

    By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

    8.9.1

    Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate

    8.10

    Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all

    8.10.1

    (a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults

    8.10.2

    Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider

    8.a

    Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries
    8.a.1

    Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements

    8.b

    By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization

    8.b.1

    Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy

    Name Description
    50 young people trained in relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, ICT skills and soft skills
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Our online and in-person training is made possible by committed local instructors, guest lectures, DataCamp's platform, and our industry partners.
    Financing (in USD)
    41330
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
    False
    Action Network
    Decent Jobs for Youth
    This initiative does not yet fulfil the SMART criteria.
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    Timeline
    16 March 2019 (start date)
    31 March 2020 (date of completion)
    Entity
    N/A
    SDGs
    Countries
    Ghana
    Ghana
    Contact Information

    Jeph Acheampong, Founder & CEO