The Standard Chartered Foundation and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited have announced a partnership to secure 1,500 decent jobs for young women in Nigeria and Kenya.

The three-year initiative targets exclusively women aged 18 to 24 from underserved backgrounds.

It supports UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s growing ecosystem of global and local partners through a public-private approach that has already achieved progress in skills training for young people.

Participants will be drawn from the pool of young women who have completed UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s skills training programmes.

The partnership prioritises assistance to help beneficiaries transition from training to decent and sustainable employment.

UNICEF in Nigeria and Kenya will collaborate closely with local job placement experts to link young women to private sector opportunities.

The programme will also foster partnerships with local government initiatives to identify job pathways aligned with community needs.

Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Nigeria Limited, Ayodeji Adelagun, said the collaboration reflected the institution’s commitment to creating economic opportunities for young people through employment-driven initiatives.

“This collaboration underscores our steadfast strategic dedication to actualizing economic opportunities for young people through concrete employment initiatives. By integrating UNICEF’s comprehensive skilling ecosystem with our employability goals centered on work readiness and vocational training, we are establishing a sustainable empowerment framework that bridges talent development and actual job placement.

“Through the creation of dignified work opportunities, we contribute to fortifying local economies, exemplify private sector involvement in national development, and promote sustainable, inclusive growth,” Adelagun said.

Also speaking, the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Wafaa Saeed, said the initiative would help unlock opportunities for young women who already possess the skills and motivation to succeed.

“Young women in Nigeria have the skills and the drive, what they need are real opportunities. When they are connected to decent jobs, they not only transform their own lives but also strengthen families and power communities. Unlocking their potential is how we move Nigeria forward, and this partnership makes that future possible,” Saeed said.

The partnership is expected to improve employment outcomes for young women and enhance private sector involvement in inclusive economic development across Nigeria and Kenya.