The United National Population Fund (UNFPA) has called on the Botswana government to prioritise economic reform and investment to urgently accelerate creation of jobs and improve livelihoods for the country’s youth, APA learnt here on Wednesday.In a report that was launched by incoming Deputy President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the study cautioned Botswana government and all development actors to “act with urgency and implement game-changing interventions” or it will face consequences related to youth unemployment.

t states that interventions will enable Botswana to take full advantage of the demographic dividend to achieve its long-term development aspirations as articulated in the country’s Vision 2016 to become a fully modernised high income county.

The study reveals that the cumulative boost in living standards emanating from the first demographic dividend between 1990 and 2060 will be 36 percent.

“Of this, 42 percent has already been accumulated between 1990 and 2015 while the remaining boost of 12 percent will accrue between 2015 and 2060, assuming the country follows fertility variant of the UN population projects,” says the report.