Youth Adult Partnerships and Human Capital Development for Youth Employability in Social Enterprises in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste has one of the youngest populations in Southeast Asia, with approximately 70 per cent of its population under the age of 23. Realising this demographic dividend requires greater investment in youth participation, human capital development and employability. Social enterprises have increasingly been recognised as organisations that combine social objectives with entrepreneurial activities while providing supportive environments for youth learning, participation and competency development. Simultaneously, Youth–Adult Partnerships (Y-AP) promote intergenerational collaboration through mutual respect, shared decision-making and reciprocal learning. This conceptual paper examines the potential contribution of Youth–Adult Partnerships to strengthening human capital development and youth employability within social enterprises in Timor-Leste. Drawing on literature relating to youth employability, human capital development, social enterprises and Youth–Adult Partnerships, it proposes an integrated conceptual framework demonstrating how supportive organisational environments facilitate mentoring, experiential learning, leadership development and meaningful youth participation. The paper also considers organisational readiness, adult allyship and the potential of digitalisation, inclusive innovation and assistive technologies to enhance participation and employability, particularly for young people with disabilities. The proposed framework provides a foundation for future empirical research and offers practical guidance for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and social enterprises seeking to strengthen inclusive youth employability in developing country contexts