Economic Security Track
Economic Security
Economic security among youth in a global context remains an elusive goal, with young individuals worldwide experiencing challenges in accumulating resources. Economic instability jeopardizes the ability of youth, their families, and communities to meet their basic needs, including adequate housing, healthcare, and financial security, and realize their capabilities. High youth unemployment rates, coupled with changing labor demands and dated vocational training programs, have exacerbated this issue. The lack of job security, inadequate social protections, and limited long-term employment prospects have hindered young people’s ability to achieve economic independence and plan for their futures. Addressing this pressing concern through inclusive economic policies, such as youth-led entrepreneurship and equitable access to quality postsecondary and vocational education and training is crucial for unlocking the potential of young people, globally. This track will explore pressing issues affecting young people’s economic security and bring leaders in the field to discuss the current state of knowledge and interventions, lessons and learnings, and way forward.
Panel: Global Financial Inclusion
(Panel session 3B, Bellflower room. On-site access only.)
This session will focus on financial inclusion among youth, and its importance in their economic security. Access to affordable and youth-oriented financial services, such as savings, credit, and digital payments, enables young people to save, invest, and build their financial capability. Ensuring that financial literacy programs and financial products are responsive to the needs and experiences of young people can unlock economic opportunities for the world’s youth
Christina Norris, Presenter
Christina Norris joined the Canadian Public Service in 1997 and is currently the Director General of the Canada Education Savings Program at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). She’s held a range of policy and research functions at Statistics Canada, ESDC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the Privy Council Office of Canada.
Davide Azzolini, Presenter
Davide Azzolini is a research fellow at the Research Institute for the Evaluation of Public Policies of the Bruno Kessler Foundation (Italy) and an affiliated scholar at the Urban Institute (Washington DC, USA). His main research interests include student achievement, migration education, immigrant integration and public policy analysis and evaluation. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science; Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies; and Demographic Research.
Dr. William Elliott, Moderator
William Elliott is a leading researcher in the fields of college savings accounts, college debt, and wealth inequality. Shaped by his personal roots in poverty in a small steel mill city in Pennsylvania, Professor Elliott pursues challenging individual beliefs and cultural values that surround funding for college, student debt, inequality, systemic patterns of poverty, and educational justice. Being refined in poverty allows him to approach questions in his research differently. His research adds fuel to debates about how to imagine ways of financing college other than by student debt. He believes that there are real possibilities and his research bears this out. He asks if college education can truly be the great equalizer it is meant to be when wealth inequality remains the defining feature of American society. He calls for the next great wealth transfer in America. The seemingly naive premise behind Professor Elliott’s research is that there are better, more effective, and more just ways of financing college and delivering on the promise of the American dream. He suggests, people must just be shown once again that more is possible.
Panel: Stable Housing and Employment
(Panel session 5A, Windflower room. On-site access only.)
This session will discuss unstable and inadequate housing among youth, globally, and many struggling to afford decent and secure living arrangements. Factors like high rental costs, limited job prospects, and lack of financial support systems contribute to housing insecurity. This instability can have detrimental impacts on mental health, education, and overall well-being, hampering young people’s ability to thrive and achieve their full potential.
Dr. Yu-Wen Chen, Presenter
Yu-Wen Chen, PhD, is currently a Professor at the Department of Social Work at the National Taiwan University. Her research has focused on the needs and rights of disadvantaged children and youth. She is especially interested in social services and welfare policies concerning youth at risk. Dr. Chen has published many journal articles, both in English and Chinese. She is also very active in training social workers working with children and youth in Taiwan.
Dr. Ke-Hsein Huang, Presenter
Ke-Hsein Huang is a sociologist and ethnographer with comparative perspectives on poverty and deviant behaviors in Taiwan.
Jeffery Okoro, Presenter
Jeffrey Okoro is a community development champion who has over 15 years of experience providing creative solutions to complex and sensitive issues. His knowledge and skills include project management, youth development, and education research. He currently serves as the Executive Director of CFK Africa, a leading NGO working in Kenyan informal settlements, where he provides strategic leadership and direction for the organization. Jeffrey earned a Bachelor of Science in Project Planning and Management from Moi University and a certificate in Business Mathematics. He served as a 2019 Metis Fellow, working toward accelerating the pace of education reform across Africa. He also earned a certificate in conflict analysis from the United States Institute of Peace.
Hsun-Ta Hsu, Moderator
Dr. Hsun-Ta Hsu is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, serving on the faculty of both the School of Social Work and the School of Data Science and Society. Dr. Hsu is also a core-faculty at the Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI). Dr. Hsu’s research adopts a multi-level perspective to promote health and housing outcomes among individuals experiencing homelessness. Dr. Hsu holds a BSW degree from the National Taiwan University, a MSW from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and a doctoral degree in social work from the University of Southern California.
Panel: Livelihood and Business Development
(Panel session 1A, Redbud room. On-site and remote access.)
Nelson Amo, Presenter
Nelson Amo is a business development expert with experience across several African countries and sectors. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Innohub, a business accelerator and impact investment platform that supports Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) to scale. Innohub supports business that demonstrate clear impact along the triple bottom-line: PEOPLE, PLANET AND SHARED PROSPERITY. He served as Grant Manager for the $3.2m Ghana Climate Venture Facility with funding from the World Bank, leading to the set-up of a climate focused SME fund and a technical assistance program to support the growth of SMEs in the climate and green sectors. Nelson is an alumnus of the Oxford University Said Business School, and holds a Certificate in “Development Programme in Entrepreneurship” from the Leeds University Business School. He also has an MSc. in Development Studies from LSE, with a special interest in Business Model Innovation at the bottom of the Pyramid. Nelson is driven by the passion to promote social innovation and enterprising solutions to poverty and underdevelopment.
Bradley Opere, Presenter
Bradley Opere is a co-founder of FarmMoja and Otto. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Cain Scholar, served on the Board of Trustees and was Student Body President. Bradley is a Senior Consultant at Axum. He works with both private sector and public sector actors supporting them supporting them on strategy, human centered design and implementation support. Prior to working at Axum, Bradley worked as a consultant at both Dalberg Advisors and McKinsey & Company. Before that, he was a private equity analyst working for Pactorum, who managed Fairfax Africa’s USD 1Billion portfolio in Africa.
Mathias Zimba, Presenter
Mathias Zimba, MA, BA (DS) Mathias Zimba is a 47-year-old Zambian, currently working with Rising Fountains Development Programme (RFDP) as Executive Director providing inspirational and impactful leadership of RFDP in Zambia and ensuring programme development and evolution of RFDP programmes in Zambia. He is responsible for overall leadership of the organizational on all programmatic and administrative matters. He is a founder and Executive Director for RFDP Zambia and has been working with RFDP Zambia for more 15 years leading the Zambia Team and also worked as a Programme Manager for the RFDP’s Zambia USAID/ABT Associate Funded Maternal and Child Health Project. Mathias is a Social Development Practioner with 26 years of practical experience in Project and Programme Management. Before founding RFDP Zambia, he worked for the Lutheran World Service/Rural Community Development and Motivation Programme, Micro Bankers Trust, EU Funded Project for the Reduction of Poverty and MBT’s Rural Finance Programme an IFAD Funded Project. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies from the University of Lusaka (UNILUS) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Development Studies from the information and Communications University (ICU). He is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in international Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid with Kalu Institute, Spain.
Ranier Masa, Moderator
Dr. Masa is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Dr. Masa leads the center’s initiatives on health. His professional and research experience has centered on addressing the intersection of economic security and health outcomes in low-resource settings. Dr. Masa holds a bachelors degree in legal management from the University of Santo Tomas (Manila, Philippines), a masters degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, and a doctoral degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.