Strength in Numbers - Cross-Sector Alliance for Youth Employment in South Africa

Challenge: Youth unemployment in South Africa exceeded 60%, creating social instability and wasting human potential. Existing programs were fragmented, underfunded, and poorly coordinated. Young people faced barriers from a lack of skills to employer prejudices to geographic isolation.  

Our Approach: Lexington Advisory Group facilitated the creation of the Youth Opportunity Alliance, bringing together government agencies, private companies, NGOs, and training institutions. Rather than starting another program, we created infrastructure for existing programs to work together more effectively.  

Implementation: We established shared data systems allowing partners to track youth through education, training, and employment journeys without duplication. Private companies are committed to hiring quotas in exchange for government training subsidies. NGOs provided wraparound support addressing barriers like transportation and childcare. Universities redesigned curricula based on employer input.  

Results: The Alliance placed 12,400 young people in sustainable employment over 30 months. Average starting wages were 34% higher than in previous programs due to better skills matching. Partner organizations leveraged $23 million in combined resources—4x more than any individual organization could access alone. Youth retention rates reached 78% after one year.  

What Made It Work: Creating genuine interdependence rather than just coordination. When organizations shared budgets, data, and success metrics, collaboration became essential for everyone's success. Our role was designing systems that made cooperation more profitable than competition.