20% of future jobs will be dedicated to
solving the world’s greatest challenges
What portion of the global workforce is dedicated to solving the world’s greatest challenges?
In a rapidly evolving world, we face a pressing reskilling crisis. By 2030, 85% of jobs will be new, and half of all employees will need reskilling. Moreover, 40% of current workers’ core skills will change within the next five years. Our youth, who are the future of our workforce, are underprepared for this reality. By 2030, 375 million youth will join the African job market alone, pushing the workforce to over a billion people, the largest in the world. Globally, 800 million youth will lack the necessary skills to enter the workforce by 2030.
While traditional trade and commerce will continue to adapt its workforce to this rapidly evolving future, we must ask:
. Where will the innovations and workforce for Sustainable Development Goals come from?
Who will invent future jobs and define the skills to address the world’s greatest challenges?
. What could job-creating ecosystems in SDG-net-positive innovations look like?
How can we turn the young and growing workforce in low-and middle-income countries into a workforce for good?
Herein lies a transformative opportunity: to direct at least 20% of the world’s future workforce towards SDG Innovations, equip them with the necessary skills, and stimulate job-creating ecosystems to provide them with jobs and opportunities while making a positive impact. This solution has the potential to not only tackle the reskilling and job crisis but also make a significant contribution to sustainable development, paving the way for a brighter future for all. These ecosystems can provide the opportunities our youth need to thrive. How can we turn the young and growing workforce in low- and middle-income countries into a workforce for good?
Job-creating Ecosystems for Good
TwentyforGood is a multi-stakeholder movement that aims to establish, execute, and scale interventions at the intersection of jobs and the Sustainable Development Goals, resulting in new jobs, new skilled and reskilled labour, and environmental and social impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, better access to health, increase in MSMEs, increase in localised manufacturing and production, and the increased momentum to the digitisation of low-income economies.
To achieve our vision, TwentyforGood is working to build the body of evidence for SDGs net-positive job-creating ecosystems. Explore our SDG-aligned themes and cross-cutting focus areas:
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
With a growing global population and increasing demand for food, there is a need for more sustainable and efficient agriculture practices. Jobs in areas such as precision agriculture, vertical farming, and alternative protein sources could play a key role in addressing food security challenges and reducing agriculture’s environmental impact while generating new jobs.
Health Innovation
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
With an aging global population, there is an increasing need for healthcare delivery and treatment innovation. Innovations in biotech and digital health will be critical in addressing healthcare challenges, improving patient outcomes, and creating new job categories in healthcare.
Renewable Energy
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Innovations related to the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, can play a critical role in addressing climate change and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable energy has already created many jobs in production, distribution and maintenance.
Education Innovation
SDG 4: Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
With rapid changes in technology and how we work, there is a growing need for innovative approaches to education and training. Innovations in Edtech, online learning, and adult education helps address the skills gap and provide more opportunities for lifelong learning.
Circular Economy
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Innovations related to the development of circular economy models, which focus on reducing waste and promoting the reuse and recycling of materials, can help to address the growing problem of waste and pollution while also stimulating jobs.
Climate Action
SDG 13: Climate Action
Climate tech focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions or addressing the impacts of global warming. Examples include renewable energy and carbon capture/storage technologies that reduce CO2 in our atmosphere, as well as technologies such as sea wall defenses and improved weather warning systems that make living with the effects of climate change more manageable. Each innovation represents future job-creating ecosystems in its design, construction, deployment, and management.
Environmental Conservation
SDG 14 and SDG 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land
Innovations related to the conservation and restoration of natural resources, such as forests, oceans, and wildlife, can help to protect our planet’s biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of our natural resources for future generations. Accelerating these innovations will, in turn, accelerate new categories of jobs for good.
Cross-Cutting
SDGs 5, 8, 9 and 17
Cross-cutting themes explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, women, youth economic empowerment, innovation and partnerships with Agri-Innovation, Circular Economy, Climate Action, Health innovations, Education Innovations, Environmental Conservation and Renewable Energy as job-creating ecosystems for good.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
With a growing global population and increasing demand for food, there is a need for more sustainable and efficient agriculture practices. Jobs in areas such as precision agriculture, vertical farming, and alternative protein sources could play a key role in addressing food security challenges and reducing agriculture’s environmental impact while generating new jobs.
Health Innovation
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
With an aging global population, there is an increasing need for healthcare delivery and treatment innovation. Innovations in biotech and digital health will be critical in addressing healthcare challenges, improving patient outcomes, and creating new job categories in healthcare.
Education Innovation
SDG 4: Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
With rapid changes in technology and how we work, there is a growing need for innovative approaches to education and training. Innovations in Edtech, online learning, and adult education helps address the skills gap and provide more opportunities for lifelong learning.
Renewable Energy
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Innovations related to the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, can play a critical role in addressing climate change and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable energy has already created many jobs in production, distribution and maintenance.
Circular Economy
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Innovations related to the development of circular economy models, which focus on reducing waste and promoting the reuse and recycling of materials, can help to address the growing problem of waste and pollution while also stimulating jobs.
Climate Action
SDG 13: Climate Action
Climate tech focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions or addressing the impacts of global warming. Examples include renewable energy and carbon capture/storage technologies that reduce CO2 in our atmosphere, as well as technologies such as sea wall defenses and improved weather warning systems that make living with the effects of climate change more manageable. Each innovation represents future job-creating ecosystems in its design, construction, deployment, and management.
Environmental Conservation
SDG 14 and SDG 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land
Innovations related to the conservation and restoration of natural resources, such as forests, oceans, and wildlife, can help to protect our planet’s biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of our natural resources for future generations. Accelerating these innovations will, in turn, accelerate new categories of jobs for good.
Cross-Cutting
SDGs 5, 8, 9 and 17
Cross-cutting themes explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, women, youth economic empowerment, innovation and partnerships with Agri-Innovation, Circular Economy, Climate Action, Health innovations, Education Innovations, Environmental Conservation and Renewable Energy as job-creating ecosystems for good.
Partner | Participate | Fund | Invest
Mobilising the workforce for good requires comprehensive interventions and innovations that extend beyond the capabilities of a single organisation. A multi-stakeholder partnership is essential for TwentyforGood’s success. Digital Frontiers is actively securing corporate sponsorships, philanthropic and other donor funding, Phase two and three impact investment partnerships, fund managers, and theme-aligned implementing partners.
PROPOSITION TO FUNDERS
Direct funding toward a new multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to drive 20% of the world’s future jobs toward solving the world’s biggest challenges. The ROI on this funding will deliver evidence for a pipeline of fundable interventions at the intersection of jobs and the SDGs; new jobs; new skilled and reskilled labour; environmental and social impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, better access to health, increase in MSMEs, increase in localised manufacturing a
PROPOSITION TO FUNDERS
Direct funding toward a new multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to drive 20% of the world’s future jobs toward solving the world’s biggest challenges. The ROI on this funding will deliver evidence for a pipeline of fundable interventions at the intersection of jobs and the SDGs; new jobs; new skilled and reskilled labour; environmental and social impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, better access to health, increase in MSMEs, increase in localised manufacturing and production, increased momentum to the digitisation of low-income economies, and more.
IMPACTS ON JOBS
TwentyforGood will stimulated and fund innovations in food security, health, climate, environmental conservation, renewable energy, education and the circular economy, resulting in dozens of new ventures deployed or strengthened across low-income countries, thousands of new micro-small or medium enterprises, and millions of new jobs for youth and women. The initiative brings components, manufacturers, maintenance and distribution, among other value chain contributors to support innovations that are both job-creating and have a social or environmental impact.
PROPOSITION TO FUNDERS
Direct funding toward a new multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to drive 20% of the world’s future jobs toward solving the world’s biggest problems. The ROI on this funding will deliver evidence for a pipeline of fundable interventions at the intersection of jobs and the SDGs; new jobs; new skilled and reskilled labour; environmental and social impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, better access to health, increase in MSMEs, increase in localised manufacturing a
PROPOSITION TO CORPORATES
Align with and sponsor or donate to a new global movement that aims to drive 20% of the world’s future jobs toward solving the world’s greatest challenges. The ROI on these donations or sponsorships will deliver CSR brand association with social and environmental impact themes and the ability to attribute your charitable donations to impacts at the intersection of jobs and the SDGs, new jobs, new skilled and reskilled labour, social and environmental impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, better access to health, increase in MSMEs, increase in localised manufacturing and production, and more.
Impacts on the World’s Greatest Challenges
In addition to job creation, TwentyforGood-aligned innovations will increase food quality and production in low-income countries, improve access to primary healthcare for hundreds of thousands of citizens, and provide access to renewable energy for tens of thousands of rural and poor people. They will also provide improved education for thousands of children, skill or re-skill tens of thousands of young adults, and reduce various waste types in low-income countries.
Proposition to Impact Investors
Invest in a new impact initiative that aims to drive 20% of the world’s future jobs toward solving the world’s biggest problems. Leverage TwentyforGood evidence and advocacy to test investment thesis and business models and have access to a pipeline of TwentyforGood-aligned start-ups and investable scaled businesses. ROI on these investments would net dividends, new jobs, new skilled and reskilled labour, social and environmental impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, increase in localised manufacturing and production, better access to health, and more.
Proposition to Impact Investors
Invest in a new impact initiative that aims to drive 20% of the world’s future jobs toward solving the world’s greatest challenges. Leverage TwentyforGood evidence and advocacy to test investment thesis and business models and have access to a pipeline of TwentyforGood-aligned start-ups and investable scaled businesses. ROI on these investments will net dividends, new jobs, new skilled and reskilled labour, social and environmental impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, increase in localised manufacturing and production, better access to health, and more.
INVESTMENT RETURNS
The TwentyforGood Impact Fund will curate a dynamic portfolio of high-potential startups spanning crucial sectors like food security, healthcare, climate action, environmental conservation, renewable energy, education, and the circular economy. It will drive outcomes, including substantial revenue growth, market expansion, and successful exits. Success stories as catalysts for innovation and job creation will emerge. Moreover, dedication to responsible investing shines through in the tangible social and environmental impact that could be achieved, empowering underrepresented founders and championing sustainability initiatives.
PROPOSITION TO FUNDERS
Direct funding toward a new multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to drive 20% of the world’s future jobs toward solving the world’s biggest problems. The ROI on this funding will deliver evidence for a pipeline of fundable interventions at the intersection of jobs and the SDGs; new jobs; new skilled and reskilled labour; environmental and social impacts such as increased food production, access to renewable energy innovations, reduced waste, better access to health, increase in MSMEs, increase in localised manufacturing a
Core Implementing Partners
A fundamental implementing partnership structure is essential for the establishment of TwentyforGood as diverse skills and services that may not be found within a single organisation. A compact assembly of core capabilities will necessitate the backing and involvement of a wide-ranging group of stakeholders, inclusive of executing partners.
Key partners would comprise of the Coordinating Organisation, which will spearhead advocacy efforts and evidence gathering. Additionally, a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) partner with localised MEL capabilities will be crucial. Other vital partners include a Fund Manager and an analytics and technical assistance firm with regional and thematic expertise. These core partners will form the backbone of the initiative, ensuring its success and impact.
Partner | Participate | Fund | Invest by contacting [email protected]
Resources
For more information on TwentyforGood, download the below resources:
- Download the TwentyforGood Concept Note
- Digital Frontiers Launches TwentyforGood to Direct 20% of Future Jobs Towards Solving the World’s Greatest Challenges: Download the Press Release