2020: A Year of Resilience and Innovation
2020 has been a challenging year for many around the world. COVID-19 has disrupted the way we live, work, and do business. But with every challenge there is an opportunity for change. An opportunity to not return to the status-quo.
With the new year upon us, we look back at how the global pandemic has inspired creativity and innovation to solve challenges brought on by the crisis.
Building resilient institutions and communities
COVID-19 disproportionately impacted lives of vulnerable populations globally, exposing societal inequalities. It was clear that, now more than ever, our role was to support and protect vulnerable communities. We initiated the Mastercard Foundation Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience Program to do just that. The program assists institutions and communities in Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada to withstand and respond to impacts of the pandemic while building their resilience. Through the program we also scaled up our support to young people—enabling them to access education, skills, and dignified work.
Equity gaps in education
Like many other sectors, we witnessed large-scale disruptions to education. The shift to online learning, brought on by the pandemic, exposed the equity gaps in the education systems. Our Secondary Education in Africa report, released this year, opens new dialogue on how education systems can adapt to change, leverage technology to improve teaching and learning, while also ensuring young people develop the skills they need to succeed.
Media highlights from the Secondary Education in Africa report:
- Reforming Secondary Education Systems to Prepare Youth for the Future of Work has Become More Urgent
- Secondary Education Isn’t Always Accessible for Youth Across Africa
- Change the Perspective on Education to Improve Learning
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Secondary Education in Africa
- Africa’s Youth Deserve a Flexible Secondary Education System

Mastercard Foundation is partnering with STIR Education on a pilot project that highlights and records teachers’ innovative problem solving techniques in order to improve the classroom environment. Students listen and take notes as Norbert Agola leads an entrepreneurship class at Mengo Senior School, Kampala, Uganda
Meeting challenges with innovation
Amid the challenges of COVID-19, we saw a rise in innovation. Young people from across Africa pivoted their social enterprises to address the challenges of this pandemic. These acts demonstrate the ingenuity and talent of Africa’s young people.
More on youth-led innovations and entrepreneurship in response to COVID-19:
- Young African Developers Create Zero Contact Food Distribution Application in Response to COVID-19
- Anzisha Fellow Leveraging Network to Inform Rural Communities on COVID-19
- How Mastercard Foundation Scholars are Giving Back Amid COVID-1
- Diagnostic start-up, KNUST Develop Rapid COVID-19 Test
As this year comes to an end, we look forward to working alongside our partners, including— governments, the private sector, educational institutions, community organizations, and young people— to build a more equitable and prosperous 2021, and beyond.