UN Career Fair

Remarks by Mr. Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia

Good morning,

Colleagues from the United Nations,

Representatives of Professional Organizations,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to participate in the first-ever UN Career Fair in Ethiopia organized by the UN Operations Management Team and Human Resources Working Group in Ethiopia.

I am very pleased to see so many young graduates present here this morning for the opening of this important event. On behalf of the United Nations Country Team in Ethiopia, I would like to welcome all of you to the United Nations and to this Career Fair. I can see and feel your energy, vibrancy, and optimism in this room.

As you know, youth empowerment is at the heart of the United Nations’ work. This is also articulated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is the most comprehensive blueprint to date for eliminating extreme poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet.

The United Nations has also a Youth Strategy which aims to facilitate increased impact and expanded global, regional and country-level action to address the needs, build the agency and advance the rights of young people in all their diversity around the world.

One of the key priorities of the strategy is to support young people’s greater access to decent work and productive employment. This would be realized by supporting governments and partners to create youth enabling employment and self-employment ecosystems and develop and operationalize strategies that prioritize the improvement of both the quantity and quality of jobs for young people.

Today’s career fair is also organized with a view to creating a platform for you to get acquainted with the desirable soft skills that are critical to harness your skills, knowledge and behaviors and increase your competitive advantages for decent and productive work.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Close to two-thirds of the population of Ethiopia is under the age of 30 years. This huge youth bulge is unprecedented in the history of the country as it is the case in many countries across the globe. This situation demands putting the youth at the center of the development dynamic and ensuring their productive engagement.

As you know, being a productive member of society is a fundamental need of all people and is especially important for youth, as they strive to transition towards an independent life through decent work. Meanwhile, the way to employment is paved with numerous obstacles.

On the one hand, many young people lack reliable information about where they can find vacancies and what their requirements are; many are often unaware of their own interests, strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand, employers often face challenges to get the right applicants for the positions they offer while some are confronted with large numbers of applicants that are not fit for purpose. Therefore, I certainly believe that this Career Fair will help the youth from diverse backgrounds, who are actively looking for jobs in private, public and civil society organizations to engage with the experienced Human Resources (HR) professionals of UN Organizations and learn a lot from them. The event also provides an opportunity for the young people to learn about the work of the UN in Ethiopia how to apply for jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities with the UN as well as how they can professionally get prepared for jobs through mock interview sessions. Today’s event is also a unique opportunity for the UN to engage with youth and help them better understand about the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the UN’s excellent partnership with Ethiopia and its support to the country’s development, humanitarian and peace-building efforts as well.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you know, your employment prospects and your future career success will depend on your ability to create connections and cultivate professional relationships.

I am glad that I am part of this event today; and I wish to assure you that the UN Country Team in Ethiopia stands ready to support the young people to advance their career aspiration in the UN Organizations. With these words, I declare the 2019 UN Career Fair officially open.

Thank You.