The Citi Foundation today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for its 2025 Global Innovation Challenge and 50 community organisations will receive US$500,000 each in grant support for innovative employment solutions.
In a statement, Citi Foundation said despite recent progress, young people globally continue to experience challenges in their pursuit of employment, including skills mismatch and gaining access to quality jobs.
According to the International Labour Organization, 65 million young people globally are unemployed.
Mitchell De Silva, Citi Country Officer (CCO) of Citi T&T said “Access to job opportunities remains a challenge for many young people. It is vitally important to provide tools that allow them to successfully integrate into the workforce. Through this new Challenge, Citi Foundation reaffirms our commitment to youth and to projects that generate a real impact on employability.”
The 2025 Global Innovation Challenge builds on Citi and the Citi Foundation’s long-standing
investment in youth, including:
-The Citi Foundation invested more than US$300 million over the last decade alone in programs that supported over one million young people in expanding their skills,
experience and networks through its Pathways to Progress initiative.
-Citi provides banking services for clients expanding access to high-quality education and youth entrepreneurship opportunities and invests in solutions for early career professionals. Citi has also financed and facilitated access to education in emerging markets through social finance bonds and other transactions.
-Citi employees volunteer year-round, lending their talent and expertise in support of youth employability, including engaging in financial education and career development workshops and mentoring and coaching youth.
Ed Skyler, Citi Head of Enterprise Service Public Affairs and Chair of the Citi Foundation. “From skills training to job placement programming and more, Citi and the Citi Foundation have long invested in scalable solutions to accelerate youth employability. But it remains a persistent and urgent matter, and we know there is more work to be done.”
“Applying the Global Innovation Challenge model to this issue represents the next step in our funding journey and our continued investment in the young people poised to build thriving and resilient communities.”