Over the past few years, it has become clear that young people in Colombia face high unemployment rates, well above the overall average, placing the country among the five nations with the highest youth unemployment within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). These gaps, which were already significant before the COVID-19 pandemic, have widened as a result of the health crisis and the measures taken by the government, further highlighting that young people in Colombia have historically faced greater barriers to accessing the formal labor market and completing their education and employment.

The primary motivation behind this document is to share the key lessons learned and recommendations gathered from various initiatives focused on the youth agenda. These initiatives draw upon the experience of the Corona Foundation, the Association of Family and Corporate Foundations (AFE), and the Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN Bogotá), with the support of all partners and allies who have accompanied us in its development. This document aims to contribute to a much-needed national conversation. It compiles specific lessons learned regarding the labor inclusion agenda for young people, while also acknowledging the importance of other essential agendas in this context, such as job creation and formal employment. These lessons also underscore the importance of highlighting the diverse barriers faced by different segments of the population across the country, and emphasize the importance of considering individual career paths as a key factor in achieving greater effectiveness in public policy actions and the work of private sector actors.