UNESCO highlights Learning Cities on World Youth Skills Day
Lifelong learning strengthens communities as UNESCO showcases youth skills worldwide.
UNESCO has highlighted how cities across its Global Network of Learning Cities are helping young people develop the skills needed for employment, active citizenship and sustainable development to mark World Youth Skills Day.
Through lifelong learning ecosystems, local governments, schools, training centres, employers and community organisations are working together to equip young people with practical, digital, entrepreneurial and leadership skills that respond to changing labour markets and wider societal needs.
The initiative highlights examples from Learning Cities around the world.
In Dakar, Senegal, programmes focus on digital entrepreneurship and employability, while Quezon City in the Philippines offers vocational education and technical certification to improve employment opportunities. Nairobi, Kenya, supports young entrepreneurs through business training, and Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, demonstrates how community engagement can strengthen sustainable development.
UNESCO also emphasises that youth skills extend beyond employment. Learning Cities promote leadership, civic participation and community engagement, with examples from Colombia and Ireland illustrating how lifelong learning helps young people become active contributors to their communities.
UNESCO also highlights how lifelong learning can support sustainability and cultural preservation. Initiatives linking young people with local heritage, environmental conservation and sustainable development demonstrate how education can strengthen both community resilience and future opportunities.
Why does it matter?
UNESCO’s initiative reflects a growing recognition that preparing young people for the future requires more than technical or digital skills alone. Lifelong learning is increasingly viewed as essential for supporting employment, civic participation, adaptability and resilience in societies shaped by rapid technological change.
The examples from Learning Cities also show how local governments can play a central role in skills development by bringing together education providers, employers and communities. As AI and digital transformation reshape labour markets, place-based lifelong learning policies may become an increasingly important part of workforce and development strategies.
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