The much-awaited YES implementation partner (IP, host partner) applications officially opened this week, and the sectors YES is recruiting for were finally released. Want to know what it takes to become a YES IP? We've got the inside scoop below.
What is a YES IP/host partner?
There are many YES corporate partners who want to help tackle the youth unemployment crisis and get their B-BBEE level(s) up, but simply cannot host youth inside their own businesses. That’s where the IP comes in.
YES IPs are equipped to provide, at any given time, thousands of youth with 12-month quality work experiences on behalf of YES corporate partners, in specified industries and sectors.
YES IPs can be non-profit organisations, social enterprises, or for-profit businesses.
Which sectors do YES IPs work in?
Currently YES IPs are working in ten sectors including education, digital/ICT, early childhood development, healthcare, SMME development, conservation, creative and agriculture.
Every year, YES recruits new IPs in selected sectors, meaning only organisations that are working in these sectors can apply. These are:
- ICT and/or digital
- Agri and/or agri processing
- Green energy
- Artisanal skills
What does it take to be a YES IP?
Because of the massive responsibility placed on YES IPs to:
- Deliver quality work experiences
- Develop youth in their care
- Uplift communities
- Pay salaries
- And deliver on their mandate to
- Retain youth for the full 12 months
- Absorb a percentage of youth at the end of the 12 months, so that YES corporate partners receive their level(s) up
YES IPs are extensively vetted to ensure that they comply with deliverables mandated by both YES and its corporate partners. This enables YES to provide youth 12-month quality work experiences, have the administrative oversight and capacity to pay youth monthly, and continue YES’s genuine passion for solving youth unemployment in South Africa. This also importantly allows YES to deliver on its legislated mandate in the Government Gazette (No. 41866, 28 August 2018).
Pro tip: If you want to be a YES IP, be sure to thoroughly read and understand this gazette, and the YES practice note.
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Targeted high growth sectors
ICT and digital:
South Africa is quickly embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in its efforts to see economic and social growth. Through this sector alone, McKinsey & Company suggests that digitisation, machine learning and automation have the potential of producing 1.8 million jobs in the country.[1] The President’s SONA Mapping, presented this year, highlighted that the digital and technology, and global business services sectors is targeted to create 500,000 jobs in global business services by 2030. Ramaphosa further stated that South Africa could reshore 20,000 high-skill digital jobs through acute focus on the sector, and create a fill an existing gap of around 60,000 high-skill digital jobs. YES believes in this vision, and has endeavoured to help achieve these targets by onboarding IPs with the relevant experience and capacity to skill the youth and develop future-facing careers.
Agriculture and agri-processing:
South Africa has great potential in exploring this sector to its fullest and capitalising on it both locally and globally. The import and export industry relies heavily on this sector with an increasing growth in demand for products.[2] While this industry is able to improve the status of our economy through the exporting of local products, it also greatly benefits communities.
There is potential for 300,000 jobs to be created through the expansion of export-oriented, high-value crops in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, the North-West and KZN, according to the Presidency. By strategically focusing recruiting IPs in agriculture and agri-processing sector, YES and its partners can create critical jobs within rural communities across the country, allowing for local economic growth as money circulates within local economies.
Artisanal:
The Infrastructure Fund works to transform public infrastructure by using funding from the likes of the private sector, institutional investors and more. This transformation benefits and boosts the economy on both short- and long-term scales, especially through the bolstering of employment opportunities.[3]
Artisanal skills are critical in light of the investment of R100 billion in the Infrastructure Fund over the next 10 years. Currently, South Africa is facing a shortage of 40,000 skilled artisans – roles that may be filled through importing skills.[4] Doing so would be counter-intuitive, especially when we have over 7.3 million able, but unemployed youth in South Africa. YES is seeking to bring these skills home by recruiting host partners in the artisanal sectors to train youth to fill this critical gap.
Green energy:
The growth in demand for renewable energy has exponentially increased over the past decades. 80% of produced power in South Africa is dependent on coal, making it the most carbon intensive in the world.[5] Investment in this industry is critical from ground up, starting with getting youth readily working in this sector.
An $8.5 billion investment plan has been approved by the South African cabinet with the intent to place focus on the electricity sector, electric vehicle manufacturing and development of green hydrogen.[6] Your organisation could create a pathway for high potential, unemployed youth into this critical and relevant sector.
Co-create a future you want to see that will benefit youth, community and our country. Through your entities partnership, youth will be given opportunities in growing sectors that will ensure them better chances at being employable going froward.
Apply now
[1] http://digital.harambee.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/HAR964-ICT-Roles-and-Demand-Support-R2.pdf
[[2] https://www.econ3x3.org/article/hiding-plain-sight-high-value-agriculture%E2%80%99s-large-scale-potential-grow-jobs-and-exports
[3] https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202205/46426gon2118.pdf
[4] https://www.intergate-immigration.com/blog/latest-scarce-skills-in-south-africa-need-skilled-artisans/
[5] https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/10/20/south-africa-approves-8-5bn-energy-transition-investment-plan/#:~:text=South%20Africa's%20cabinet%20has%20approved,coal%20and%20towards%20clean%20energy.
[6] https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/10/20/south-africa-approves-8-5bn-energy-transition-investment-plan/#:~:text=South%20Africa's%20cabinet%20has%20approved,coal%20and%20towards%20clean%20energy.
Amendment to the Gazette