Berlin - The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) called on industrial nations Tuesday to do more to combat youth unemployment in Africa.

More than 133 million of Africa's young are illiterate and without skills, giving them little chance of obtaining work, the OECD said at a news conference in Berlin coinciding with the launch of its annual economic outlook for the continent.

The OECD said that in addition to providing primary education for African children, it was necessary to promote vocational training that concentrates on sectors with promising employment.

Technical and vocational systems in Africa are poorly funded and managed, it said. In southern Africa, participation in vocational training programmes was especially low, the OECD said.

The organization, which links the world's 30 leading industrial nations, predicted an economic growth rate of 5.9 per cent for Africa this year, up from 5.7 per cent in 2007.

The continent's main source of revenue is derived from exporting oil and other raw materials. (dpa)