Mastercard Foundation

By 2050, approximately 40% of the world’s population under 18 will have been born and raised in Africa, positioning them to become the world’s digital skills workforce. With our Young Africa Works strategy, Mastercard Foundation is committed to digitally empowering marginalized young people, especially young women, through digital skills development, enabling entrepreneurs, strengthening academic programming, and digital economy research. To help bridge Africa’s digital divide, we are a member of the Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA) working to equip African Youth with the digital skills needed to find meaningful employment opportunities. Learn more about how our partnerships are empowering young people through digital skills here: https://ow.ly/pVUm50SIT8f #DigitalAccessibility #InternetAccessforWomenInAfrica

"Enabling diverse young women to access quality learning – particularly at the secondary school level – is ultimately an investment in stronger, more prosperous, and more resilient economies." - Hannah Tsadik, (Acting) Country Director Kenya, Mastercard Foundation. Through our partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationalists, Kenya Chapter (FAWEK), we're breaking down barriers so young girls can access a quality education. The Imarisha Msichana program will be implemented in 20 counties across Kenya and aims to significantly reduce teenage pregnancies and keep young women in school. Learn more: https://ow.ly/IpW450SGQvR

We believe with access to education, finance, and skills training, all people, no matter their starting point, can have an equal chance to succeed. Our approach is to promote sustainable development through local engagement. We've committed to ensuring that at least 75% of our partnerships in Africa are with African organizations. Linking the article directly - Recent study by the Bridgespan Group emphasizes the significant impact of our partnerships with African NGOs on critical issues across the African continent. Learn more: https://ow.ly/suhY50SGOW6

Meet the 12 EdTech Fellows who are working to transform the quality of education by making it inclusive for Egypt’s underserved learners. EdVentures, in partnership with The Mastercard Foundation's Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, has launched the inaugural cohort of the EdTech Fellowship program in Egypt. In 2023, the solutions by the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship cohorts in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya reached 2.6 million learners. Over the next three years, we aim to impact 36 Egyptian start-ups through training, mentorship opportunities, and networking. Discover more about the fellows here: https://ow.ly/bJug50SGlwC

In partnership with Children's Rights and Violence Prevention Fund (CRVPF) and gnuGrid CRB, the new Empowering Youth Through Data and Community Development (EYDCD) aims to reach 400,000 young people in Uganda and create 250,000 dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities by 2028. The program will provide market-relevant skills, business development resources, and digital financial inclusion to empower young people. Learn more about it here: https://ow.ly/xTAm50SAEHO

Integrating technology into learning systems in Africa is a necessity, not a luxury. The inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference 2024, held from July 8 to 10 and hosted in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, brought together 600 stakeholders from over 30 countries to discuss education technology for resilient and #inclusivelearning in Africa. The conference, which is planned to reconvene in 2026, concluded with a collective call to action on 10 recommendations for governments and other EdTech stakeholders. Read the recommendations here: https://ow.ly/StaE50SBUkj Pictured: Rosy Fynn, Country Director, Nigeria Programs, Mastercard Foundation; Joseph Nsengimana, Director, Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, Mastercard Foundation; Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, HM of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary, Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) #EdTechConference2024 #education #technology #EdTech

"Young people should always believe in their dreams, follow their aspirations and embark on entrepreneurship." - Armande LO, a young and dynamic "agripreneur" and founder of MandaBio.    Armande recently participated in the Suqali Access to Finance program, which has greatly contributed to her success. The Suqali program improves the #financialinclusion of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), focusing on women and young entrepreneurs, especially those located in rural areas.   During a visit to her former school in #Dakar, Armande shares her entrepreneurial story, recounting the challenges she has faced and the successes she has achieved since starting her journey just a few years ago.   Discover Armande's dedication and passion for #agriculture and youth empowerment through this inspiring video. Watch now: https://ow.ly/z6IW50SENPV #WorldYouthSkillsDay *** "Les jeunes devraient toujours croire en leurs rêves, suivre leurs aspirations et se lancer dans l'entrepreneuriat." - Armande Lo, jeune "agripreneur" dynamique et fondatrice de Mandabio. En 2023, Armande a participé au programme "Suqali, Access to Finance", qui a contribué la belle réussite de son projet. Le programme Suqali a amélioré l'inclusion financière des micro, petites et moyennes entreprises (MPME), en se concentrant sur les femmes et les jeunes entrepreneurs, en particulier ceux situés dans les zones rurales. A l'occasion d'une visite dans son ancienne école à Dakar, Armande partage, avec des étudiants, son aventure entrepreneuriale, racontant les défis auxquels elle a été confrontée et les réussites qu'elle a obtenues depuis le début de son parcours, il y a seulement quelques années. Découvrez le courage et la passion d'Armande pour l'agriculture et l'autonomisation des jeunes à travers cette vidéo stimulante. #JournéeMondiale #CompétencesDesJeunes #DéveloppementDesTalents

Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Universidad EARTH, Solange, James, and Gloire are more than their refugee and displaced person status. They are future leaders who are adding their voices to the critical conversation about refugees and displaced persons. Help us elevate the voices, vision and leadership of the young people who understand the context best. Listen to their reflections here: https://ow.ly/8C3E50SAHpf

World Food Programme and the Mastercard Foundation join forces to empower young people in countries across Africa 🌾🌍   In 2022, WFP and the Mastercard Foundation embarked on an ambitious partnership to promote youth employment in agriculture in Africa. The programme aims to make local agrifood systems more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive for young people across eight African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda). To achieve that, it provides various services to youth and youth-led enterprises – including training, input provision, technology, financial literacy mentorship, business development services, and market linkages to the private sector.   In #Uganda, programme participation has allowed Ponsiano to find a new income source in the maize value chain. Living in Kyegegwa, in Western Uganda, Ponsiano had to drop out of school due to lack of funds for school fees. He then began learning metalwork with his uncle, which inspired him to join a WFP one-week training on building maize shellers. These ‘post-harvest’ machines are designed to separate corn grains from cobs in a swifter, more efficient way – reducing losses and improving the quality of the maize.   Whether in production, food processing, service provision, distribution, or marketing, the WFP-Mastercard Foundation partnership aims to give Ponsiano and other youth the tools they need to plan, set goals, and achieve them.   Read more about the collaboration between WFP and the Mastercard Foundation below ⬇   #FoodSystems #SustainableDevelopment #YouthVoices

💫 The Mastercard Foundation EVOLVE Ghana convening, hosted at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), was an exciting opportunity for connection and learning.   The two-day event brought together over 800 guests, including economic policymakers, ecosystem actors, and young entrepreneurs, to participate in an open marketplace, interactive experiences, live performances, and insightful masterclasses. The marketplace provided real-time market exposure and sales opportunities for young entrepreneurs, while the masterclasses prepared them for intergenerational dialogue with ecosystem actors to address the market access barriers they face. The event enabled participants to go beyond conversations and inspired concrete commitment to action. Learn more about our work in Ghana: https://ow.ly/qBJi50SACOY