TANZANIA, July 15 -- ACROSS many developing countries, particularly in Africa, youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing socioeconomic challenges of our time.

Every year, thousands of graduates and school leavers enter the labour market with hopes of securing decent jobs, only to find limited opportunities in the formal sector. As a result, many young people turn to informal markets for income generation.

This raises an important question: Are informal markets genuine opportunities for youth economic empowerment, or are they merely survival strategies in the face of limited alternatives?

Informal markets have become a significant source of employment for young people. Street vending, mobile money services, food vending, trans...