A new initiative from Nestlé aims to create the next generation of front-runners for the company, with the Swiss giant aiming to nurture successful agripreneurs, entrepreneurs and game-changers. Announcing a new ambition for its global youth initiative: Nestlé needs YOUth, the company says that by 2030 it will help 10 million young people around the world have access to economic opportunities.

The global initiative brings together all of the efforts to support young people internationally that Nestlé undertakes on its own and with others, including the Alliance for YOUth.

In addition to employability, the initiative now also focuses on the next generation of farmers and entrepreneurs across Nestlé’s value chain, looking to encourage innovation.

Nestlé is backing up its commitment by being one of the first companies to join the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth led by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider made the announcements in New York yesterday (September 18) during events around the UN General Assembly week. He stressed that investing in young people is important to achieve sustainable development goals and said it’s a far-sighted investment for companies as it boosts economies and business.

Global youth initiative: Nestlé needs YOUth
ILO estimates that two out of every five young people are either unemployed or have a job that keeps them in poverty, but Nestlé is determined to help young people develop their skills and gain experience so they can find jobs or create their own businesses.

“We want to help equip the next generation of employment, to become creative front-runners in our company, successful agripreneurs, entrepreneurs and game changers regardless of their field or level of expertise,” it says. 

“This is why we are expanding our Nestlé needs YOUth initiative to encompass our entire value chain, from the sourcing of raw materials to the manufacturing and distribution of our products.”

The goal is to help 10 million young people around the world have access to economic opportunities by 2030.

Over the last decade, Nestlé’s global, local and brand actions have helped to prepare hundreds of thousands of youth for work; trained and supported more than four million farmers around the world and developed the business skills of two million women.

To work towards its 2030 ambition, Nestlé will focus on three key areas:

• Employment and employability: “We are determined to help young people develop their skills so they can find jobs through our activities to get hired, get skilled (vocational training), get support and get more opportunities."
   
• Agripreneurship: “We help equip the next generation of entrepreneurs by supporting and assisting young farmers to improve the economic returns from their crops and become leaders in agriculture. They are the farmers who will grow the raw materials that we need to make our products.”
   
• Entrepreneurship: “We leverage entrepreneurship by identifying and nurturing business talent in young people. They will help us reach out to new markets and consumers. They are the innovators who will find the solutions to the business challenge of the future.”