Young Africa Works Summit | Mastercard Foundation

Young Africa Works Summit

Advancing Dignified and Fulfilling Work for Young People

A group of young people having a discussion in a courtyard outdoors

Kigali, Rwanda. June 29, 2026

The Young Africa Works Summit is a day-long working session focused on accelerating progress to dignified and fulfilling work for young people across Africa.

The Summit centres the perspectives of young people and brings together policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, educators, development institutions, and young entrepreneurs to examine what it will take to enable more young people to access stable and resilient livelihoods.

The Foundation will share what it has learned in implementing its Young Africa Works Strategy, including what has worked, where progress has been uneven, and where structural barriers remain. These insights are offered as inputs into a broader conversation.

A black line drawing of a lightbulb

What’s the intended outcome of the Summit?

The intended outcome is a clear, concrete set of actions and next steps that can accelerate access to dignified and fulfilling work for young people in Africa in practical and measurable ways.

Summit Sessions

The Young Africa Works Summit will be a day full of robust conversations with three core sessions spotlighted.

  • A young woman in professional wear standing and writing on a large whiteboard, Entrepreneur tour Kenya, 2017.

    Session I:

    Why Dignified and Fulfilling Work Matters Now

  • A young man tending to tree seedlings in a greenhouse.

    Session II

    Which sector and system shifts are needed to unlock employment opportunities at scale?

  • A group of young people in hard hats and high-vis vests, learning about solar panel installation, photo courtesy of Instersollar, Green RISE Africa, Pan-African Programs, March 25, 2026.

    Session III

    Turning Dialogue into Action: Priorities for Enabling Dignified and Fulfilling Work

Get the Young Africa Works Newsletter


Introducing the Young Africa Works newsletter from the Mastercard Foundation. In each issue, we share evidence, stories, and honest analysis from our work in enabling 30 million young people in Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.

Subscribe Today