Issue# 1 Two Paths for the Coming Youth Explosion

Welcome to the first edition of FII Institute’s The Future in Focus. As part of our work to turn ideas into solutions and actions that have a positive impact on humanity, this newsletter will explore the pressing issues facing the world today. We’ll start with the changing nature of the global population.

More than half the world is under 30 right now – and getting younger.

Based on our current trajectory, this will lead to one of two potential outcomes.?

Either option is likely to exacerbate growing dissatisfaction around the world.

Charting a different and better path will require deep investment in youth globally.

How should we define youth?

Should the UN’s suggested 15-24 year age range be the same around the world, or should it vary by region? Or should we instead focus on people that have not yet had full time jobs? Perhaps we should look at people under a certain age who are not self-supporting or who are still determining their career path. Youth can mean many things. However you define it, we see this cohort bringing the energy, activity and new ways of thinking that are critical to solving long-standing problems.

Dive Deeper

FII Institute Perspectives

FII PRIORITY Compass (2023) – Priorities of citizens around the world are shifting at an unprecedented pace. Quality of life, financial security, social equity, and public health have emerged at the forefront, revealing a collective desire for a sustainable and inclusive future.

Closing the Gaps: How Technology Is Changing the Face of Education (2021) –? The digital divide is growing wider. At the same time, breakthroughs in technology make it possible for many more children to have access to affordable, good quality education. This is the moment to make real and sustainable change in the way we approach education and close the large opportunity divide separating so many young people around the world.

Learnings By Founding: Social Entrepreneurship Education for Refugees (2022) – The millions of inhabitants at refugee camps – especially younger inhabitants – are often seen as people with zero options for higher education and decent work. Entrepreneurship education can change that – if we create the framework for disadvantaged youth to unleash their potential.

FII Institute Recommended Reading

Fortune recently noted that mismatched skills, changing demographics, immigration flows and new work arrangements are contributing to a continued global labor shortage that shows no sign of abating. The solution will require global coordination.

As urbanization fails to deliver economic opportunity in Sub-Saharan Africa, new ways of integrating young people into the global digital economy can be transformational. Read more in Harvard Business Review, here.

Student learning is failing to keep up with society’s demands. McKinsey outlined four strategies that can create a virtuous cycle of learning gains, here.

Harvard’s Graduate School of Education argued that the most effective use cases for AI in education require not just great technology, but great design.

FII Institute Platforms

FII PRIORITY Rio De Janeiro 2024: Invest in Dignity

Last week, FII PRIORITY convened in Rio de Janeiro under the theme, “Invest in Dignity.” The summit explored how investing in the ecological transition, technology and innovation, and social inclusion can build a new global order that prioritizes dignity for all. Ensuring that citizens’ dignity is nurtured and protected stands as a pivotal global objective and is inextricably intertwined with sustainable development and economic prosperity. Read more here.

FII 8th Edition 2024 | Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow

Under the captivating theme ‘Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow,’ FII8 will ignite discussions on how investment can serve as a catalyst for a prosperous and sustainable future, pushing the boundaries of what is possible for humanity.

Convening in Riyadh from October 29-31, FII8 promises to be a melting pot of innovative ideas, bringing together global leaders, entrepreneurs, political leaders, media and decision-makers in finance, AI, sustainability, energy, geoeconomics, space and beyond. By focusing on the theme of ‘Infinite Horizons,’ this year’s conference will challenge attendees to think beyond conventional limits and explore investment opportunities that can bridge current challenges with future possibilities.