Here we are—2022!

New years are harbingers of hope. Since the pandemic, it’s natural to feel a tension: between fatigue and fortitude. Resignation and resolve. Yet, resolved we must be.

The reality is that all of us will be living with COVID-19 and its variants for some time and we must be prepared to manage through waves of infection. To keep all of us safe, we must redouble efforts to vaccinate 70 percent of Africa’s population in 2022. COVID-19 has also hit these economies hard.  So, as we address today’s critical needs, we can’t lose sight of the longer-term imperative to expand economic opportunities for young people and their families.

The pandemic challenged us at the Mastercard Foundation to think differently. To be agile and pivot to change. To reimagine how we work to promote equity and inclusion. To be bold.

Last June, we partnered with the Africa CDC to launch a $1.5 billion initiative called Saving Lives and Livelihoods. Together, we will purchase vaccines for over 65 million people, deploy vaccines to millions more across the continent, enable vaccine manufacturing in Africa by developing the workforce, and strengthen the Africa CDC. This was uncharted waters for us, but we believed it was necessary. Already, results are observable.

Africa CDC swiftly deployed teams of rapid responders to countries to roll out vaccinations in time to beat expiration dates. By the end of 2021, the first batch of 15 million vaccines were distributed. Working closely with Ministries of Health, Africa CDC is expanding the number of vaccination centres, training health workers, and promoting vaccinations through outreach by trusted community leaders. Significant progress has been made on an African vaccine manufacturing strategy, with several countries signing agreements with manufacturers, laying the groundwork to make “made in Africa” vaccines a reality.

While COVID-19 triggered global change, it has not changed our Foundation’s ambitious goal under Young Africa Works to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. We asked, “What do we need to do differently to deliver results alongside our partners?”  With wise and practical input from leaders, partners, and young people, we revamped our approach.

In the countries where we work, we aligned with economic recovery strategies and made choices about where the Foundation will be most impactful. In 2022, we will focus on the delivery of our programs. In some instances, we will double down on the agricultural sector, emphasizing entrepreneurship and the growth of micro and small enterprises. Education, access to finance, and digital innovation will remain powerful enablers of job creation.

We have introduced new regional programs, adding momentum to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to drive growth and work opportunities. For example, the Foundation is rolling out a regional initiative in health, a dynamic sector for entrepreneurs and young people to build their careers. We are also implementing a new fund to support promising businesses – particularly those managed by women – through a network of African fund managers.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program – which will celebrate its first decade in 2022 – is doubling its initial target: from educating 50,000 young people to 100,000 young people.  To date, more than 40,000 deserving young people – over 70 percent of whom are young women – are acquiring an education and leadership skills. In its next decade, the Scholars Program will strengthen higher education institutions and ecosystems in Africa to promote excellence, enable learning with real-world relevance, and ensure education is more accessible and inclusive for all.

As we implement our programs in Africa, we are gaining ground on our target to ensure 75 percent of our partnerships on the continent are with African organizations. This is critical, as we know that change and impact must be owned, driven, and sustained by local institutions that are responsive and accountable to communities. We’re on track: Since 2017, 62 percent of our partnerships are with African organizations, and we have committed 71 percent of our funding to these partners.

Our Canada Programs will continue to grow and expand. We will be more intentional about creating digital equity for Indigenous young people, as well as ensuring they have pathways to access sustainable economic opportunities. Working with outstanding organizations, we will introduce two initiatives to prepare Indigenous young people for careers in teaching and health care.

In 2022, we choose not just aspiration, but bold and meaningful action. Together with our partners, we are moving forward.