With one in five young people globally classified as out of work or training, it is clear that traditional, short-term grant funding is insufficient to solve the deepening crisis of youth unemployment. To bridge this gap, World YMCA and SecondMuse Capital are working to deploy innovative finance solutions through the Future Economy Lab
South Africa’s youth are poised to play a pivotal role in driving the country’s emerging green economy. As the nation transitions away from carbon-intensive industries, young people are increasingly positioned to fill roles in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, waste management and green technology innovation.
World YMCA and SecondMuse Capital have partnered to design and implement innovative finance mechanisms aimed at unlocking green-economy jobs for underserved youth. Through the Future Economy Lab (FEL), SecondMuse Capital researches, designs, and deploys financial instruments tailored for real-world impact, particularly in sectors such as climate technology, circularity, green infrastructure, education and social equity.
As South Africa pivots away from fossil-fuel–heavy sectors and toward a just transition, SecondMuse Capital’s work, alongside partners like World YMCA, may prove instrumental in converting ambition into tangible green jobs, offering underserved youth a pathway to stable employment and a stake in the country’s sustainable future.
