About | Skill Our Future

About
Skill Our Future

Skill Our Future (SOF) is an initiative under UNDP’s Youth Empowerment Portfolio in Asia (YEP-AP) and the Pacific, aimed at bridging digital inequality and empowering young people, particularly from underserved communities. SOF equips youth with essential 21st-century, digital, green and employability skills, preparing them for the evolving job market and future workforce shaped by the Twin Transition.

Through SOF, young people gain access to opportunities their enhance their employability and entrepreneurial potential, fostering their growth as leaders and active global citizens. The initiative emphasizes inclusivity and sustainability, contributing to the development of resilient communities and economies. By partnering with governments, academic institutions, youth networks, and other ecosystem partners, SOF integrates holistic skills development into both formal and informal education with the objective to reach mass youth groups and scale impact, especially underserved communities.

Context of
Youth

Youth across the Asia-Pacific region face significant barriers in accessing the digital skills, education, and training necessary to thrive in today’s evolving workforce. Key challenges include:

Unemployment

25% of youth in Asia-Pacific are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), with young women disproportionately affected.

Future of Work

The digital and green transitions are reshaping job markets across the region.

Digital Skills Gap

54% of youth in South Asia lack essential digital skills, while 61% of ASEAN students don't receive digital literacy education in schools.

Digital Divide

The pandemic has deepened the gap, leaving marginalized communities with limited access to digital education and resources.

Our
Mission

Aligned with the broader goals of YEP-AP, SOF is committed to advancing sustainable development by unlocking the potential of youth and reducing digital inequality across the region.

What stands out to me about Skill Our Future is its comprehensive approach to upskilling. It offers a wide range of resources and learning opportunities that focus on the skills that will be crucial for thriving in an ever-evolving work environment.

Naman Raina | India

Today, I proudly completed the course Responsible Use of AI in Education. This course has been enlightening, providing valuable insights on integrating AI responsibly and ethically in educational settings. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Skill Our Future for offering such an amazing and impactful course.

MD Minhajul | Bangladesh

The Essential Facilitation Skills: Mastering the Fundamentals course is: woohoo! Let me tell you, this brand-new course form is a total game-changer. The instructor gave me the best tip EVER.

Quang Pham | Vietnam

Just completed the course on Mastering the Art of Interview. One of the best learning was the frameworks provided on answering the various commonly asked questions – one more step towards upgrading myself!

Aysha Kunnil | India

Holistic Skills Development

A Networks of Network

Stakeholders of Skill Our Future include:

Youth & Youth-Led CSOs`
Facilitators, leaders, and entrepreneurs who receive ToT and capacity-building to empower their communities.
Ecosystem Partners
The private sector and academia collaborate to co-create content, provide mentorship, and engage youth across diverse groups.
Governments: Collaborate to mainstream and embed skills curricula within educational systems and support inclusive employment initiatives.