The Citi Foundation has named Malaysia’s Biji-biji Initiative as one of 50 global recipients of its 2025 Global Innovation Challenge, with each selected organisation set to receive USD500,000 (RM2.3 million) to advance youth employment solutions worldwide.
The funding will support Biji-biji Initiative in launching a six-month skills training and job placement programme designed to prepare low-income Malaysian youth for higher-income, performance-based sales careers. The initiative — called NextGen Sellers — combines financial literacy, English language training, and AI-enhanced sales skills, aiming to open new economic pathways for young people often trapped in low-wage jobs.
Youth unemployment remains a persistent challenge globally and locally. The International Labour Organization estimates that 65 million young people worldwide are currently unemployed. In Malaysia, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15–24 stood at 10.2%, representing 297,500 unemployed youths as of June 2025, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
“As young people today continue to navigate significant barriers to employment, empowering this next generation with relevant skills and meaningful opportunities is critical,” said Edward Skyler, Citi’s Head of Enterprise Services and Public Affairs. He noted Citi’s longstanding commitment to bridging the job-skills mismatch for youth worldwide.
Biji-biji Initiative Partner Ambika Sangaran said the programme aims to break structural limitations faced by underserved youth. “Through this partnership with the Citi Foundation, we’re testing how sales and digital skills can position them for higher-income careers that can change life trajectories,” she added.
Citi Malaysia CEO Vikram Singh welcomed the selection of Biji-biji Initiative, calling it a powerful partnership aligned with Malaysia’s MADANI framework to “raise the floor” and promote inclusive economic growth. “By building a future-ready workforce, we are driving sustainable national growth and creating lasting change in the communities where we live and work,” he said.
The 2025 Global Innovation Challenge will distribute USD25 million in total funding for programmes focused on digital literacy, technical and vocational training, work-based learning, and entrepreneurship support. Grantees will also join a global learning network to exchange insights and best practices over the two-year implementation period.