Citi Foundation said Thursday it has launched a $25 million global initiative to help young people build the skills needed for jobs increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
The fourth Global Innovation Challenge will provide $500,000 each to 50 community organizations working to improve employment prospects for low-income youth.
The programs will focus on both AI-related and human-centric skills, ranging from prompt engineering and digital content creation to problem-solving and critical thinking. The initiative will also support efforts to connect young people with job opportunities, integrate AI tools into existing youth employment programs and improve access to technology.
The foundation said the rapid adoption of AI is creating new employment opportunities while also widening the digital divide for young people who lack access to the technology or skills needed to use it.
About 66 percent of employers expect to hire workers with specialized AI skills, according to the World Economic Forum. At the same time, more than 60 percent of employers expect growing demand for human-centric capabilities such as critical thinking, resilience and flexibility, highlighting the need for workers to develop both technological and nontechnical skills.
"Fluency in AI is key to unlocking these opportunities," said Brandee McHale, head of community investing and development at Citi and president of the Citi Foundation.
"Through this Global Innovation Challenge, we are ensuring that young people develop this fluency, gain the skills they need to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow and become the innovators and leaders of our next generation."
The initiative also seeks to strengthen cross-sector partnerships to share best practices, build capacity and respond to changing workforce needs.
The latest challenge builds on Citi Foundation's broader push to support youth employment, including its decade-long Pathways to Progress initiative and its 2025 Global Innovation Challenge, which also focused on expanding employment opportunities for young people.
Eligible organizations can register their interest by Oct. 6, with grant recipients set to be announced in 2027.
jwc@heraldcorp.com
