As Africa’s population continues to grow younger while the rest of the world ages, the challenge now is how to harness this demographic potential for meaningful employment and economic growth.
Out of the 35 countries with the lowest median age worldwide as of 2023, only three are outside Africa. Leading the pack are Niger (15.1), Uganda (16.1), Angola (16.2), Mali (16.3), Chad (16.5), and DRC (16.8).
In fact, all of the top 18 countries with the lowest median ages are in Africa. Established in 2006, the Mastercard Foundation, a Canadian charity, foresaw this demographic potential and set itself an ambitious target: to get at least 30 million young Africans in sub-Saharan Africa into dignified and fulfilling work by 2030 under its Young Africa Works program.
Dignified and fulfilling work is defined by employment that provides reliable income and meets at least one of the following metrics, i.e reputable (valued within the community), respectful (ensuring workers feel heard and treated fairly in the workplace) or purposeful (offering a sense of meaning and contribution).
The foundation, established by Mastercard shareholders of the digital payments giant Mastercard, operates independently, with offices in Accra, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Kampala, Kigali, Lagos, Nairobi and Toronto.
Mastercard Foundation’s unique approach focuses on partnering with organizations that share its vision to advance education and financial inclusion for young people in Africa and indigenous youth in Canada.
Uganda became the first African country where the foundation implemented its programs in 2008. Currently, the foundation collaborates with over 400 partners in more than 30 countries, focusing on five key themes:
1. Agrifood Systems and Climate- Resilient Growth: Supporting youth to create sustainable livelihoods through value chain development, market access, and climate-smart practices.
2. Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development: Providing access to finance, mentorship and business development services to help young people launch and scale their businesses.
3. Workforce Development: Equipping young people with technical, vocational, and soft skills to thrive in evolving labor markets.
4. Inclusion and Equity: Promoting gender equality and supporting marginalized groups, including refugees and persons with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to opportunities.
REGIONAL PROGRESS
In East Africa, the foundation in Uganda works with 33 partners across 22 programs, Ethiopia 21 partners across 21 programs, Kenya 38 partners across 27 programs, Tanzania five partners across one program and Rwanda 21 partners across 26 programs.
In West Africa the foundation in Nigeria works with 12 partners across 15 programs, Ghana 26 partners across 24 programs, Senegal: 1 partner across 1 program Benin, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon also have ongoing initiatives.
CASE OF ETHIOPIA
With national unemployment at 8% and youth unemployment at 23.2%, the foundation aims to empower 10 million youth by enhancing access to finance, education and skills, leveraging digital technology, supporting policy reforms, fostering innovation, and building partnerships with impactful organizations.
UGANDA’S AMBITIOUS TARGET
Uganda aims to enable 4.3 million young people (ages 18 to 35, of which 70% are women, 7% are refugees, and 3% are young people with disabilities) to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.
According to Adrian Bukenya, Mastercard Foundation’s country director for Uganda, over 1.3 million young people have secured employment or started businesses since 2019, indicating that the target is within reach.
“In this is country, you leave university when you’re around 21 with a lot of opportunities ahead of you. However, the responsibility that you have is beyond just being 21 and the type of relations you have.
So the foundation said let us see how we can put in place a framework to support young people between 18 and 35 to have the opportunities to contribute to their own individual wellbeing and two, to the wellbeing of their countries in terms of labour opportunities and support. And I think we made the right decision,” said Bukenya.
Over 20,000 students have been supported through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and Higher Education alumni.
Bukenya emphasizes that youth must take ownership of their futures, engage with the economy, and drive their own destinies. Bukenya highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and individuals to create sustainable systems.
“If we’re very deliberate about what we’re doing, these numbers are not the point. What we’re going to do is shift the entire system and start generating these opportunities naturally.”
SUCCESS STORIES
Programs like Hi-Innovator have provided young entrepreneurs like Hellen Birungi with financial support, mentorship, business development training, and market linkages.
Her eco-friendly beauty business, Heb’s Organic, benefited immensely from these resources, expanding her team and boosting her monthly revenues from $190 to $1,300.
Peter Materu, chief program officer at Mastercard Foundation, adds: “By intentionally reaching marginalized groups—including young women, rural youth, persons with disabilities, and refugees and displaced persons— we ensure that every young person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed.”