Disability Inclusion | Mastercard Foundation

Disability Inclusion

Two women looking at a laptop in a classroom.

We believe inclusive economic growth is essential to unlocking the full potential of young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada.

Creating viable pathways for all young people, including women and marginalized groups, enables them to improve their lives, livelihoods, and well-being. By fostering inclusivity, we empower a new generation to shape their own destinies.

Inclusion is at the core of our mission to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. We acknowledge that the diversity, talent, and unique viewpoints of individuals with disabilities enhance communities, workplaces, and economies, fostering innovation and social progress.

Doreck Ankunda, Uganda wearing a light yellow button up blowse.

Persons with disabilities have immense talent, yet we often leave them behind. We must focus on their abilities, not their disabilities, and give them opportunities to shine.

Doreck Ankunda, Uganda

Understanding what dignified and fulfilling work means for young people with disabilities helps shape the Young Africa Works strategy and further supports the Foundation’s vision of a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper.

Disability Inclusion Matters

Individuals with disabilities represent an estimated 15 percent of Africa's population.

However, they are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to those without disabilities. Women with disabilities face even greater barriers.

Excluding people with disabilities costs African economies between 3 percent to 7 percent of their GDP. This results in lost potential contributions from their skills, adaptability, and diverse experiences.

Driving Change for an Inclusive Future

  • School icon illustrated in black and white

    61% of young people

    61 percent of young people with disabilities in Africa are out of school, limiting future employment opportunities. Early exclusion from education leads to lifelong economic disadvantages.

  • Magnifying glass icon illustrated in black and white

    Stigma limits potential

    Stigma and discrimination perpetuate limiting beliefs about the potential of young people with disabilities. Families, schools, and employers often underestimate their capabilities, reducing their agency and participation in the workforce.

  • Announcement icon illustrated in black and white line work

    Amplifying voices and skill sets

    Our programs and partner networks offer significant opportunities to dismantle systemic barriers. By shifting policies, practices, and mindsets, we can amplify the voices and skill sets of young people with disabilities.

Our Approach to Disability Inclusion

Prioritizing inclusion helps open pathways for full participation in society and the workforce. Our approach is guided by three key pillars:

  1. Strengthening disability inclusion in our programs and partner organizations to enhance access to education and job opportunities.
  2. Amplifying the voices of young people with disabilities to empower them as transformative leaders driving socio-economic change.
  3. Improving supportive environments in essential areas such as digital accessibility, inclusive education, and assistive technologies.

Key Initiatives

Four smiling individuals pose in front of a green-and-white backdrop featuring a Zero Project logo with a sprouting plant and the text "For a world with zero barriers".

Insights from the Zero Project Conference 2026: Young Persons with Disabilities as Changemakers

The Zero Project annual conference is one of the world’s leading platforms for innovation in disability inclusion.

Learn more about the 2026 Zero Project
Poster for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The Mastercard Foundation celebrates the innovative spirit and ingenuity that youth with disabilities bring to breaking down barriers to equitable education and employment and catalyzing innovative solutions for the future of work.

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Main stage at the Global Disability Summit in Berlin, 2025

Global Disability Summit 2025

In April the Mastercard Foundation and Light for the World co-created to share insights and impact the signature event.

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Two women and a man speaking in sign language and smiling at one another.

Disability-Inclusive Education and Employment: Report series

Recognizing that meaningful inclusion for young people with disabilities starts with listening and learning, the Mastercard Foundation developed a research program to map the policy landscape and to hear directly from young people with disabilities. Two series of reports have been produced, covering the Mastercard Foundation’s seven countries of focus.

Read the reports
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Report: Platform Livelihoods for Kenyan Youth with Disabilities

Conducted by inABLE and Technoprise Global in partnership with Caribou Digital and the Mastercard Foundation, this report documents the initial survey of 148 research participants, followed by 86 focus group discussions and in‑depth interviews, to explore how young Kenyans are leveraging social media to sell goods and services.

Read the report

Video: Innovating for Disability Inclusion

Watch the stories of five incredible young people who have recognized a need within their community and are creating positive change.

Watch the stories

Our Disability Inclusion Programs

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Our Disability Inclusion Partners

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Latest Disability Inclusion Research

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Video: Disability-Inclusive Education and Employment – Understanding Youth Experiences and Aspirations

Created by researchers from the Uganda Research Unit and the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, in partnership with young people with disabilities and the Mastercard Foundation, this short film shows what dignified, fulfilling work looks like and means for youth with disabilities in Uganda and Ghana.

Watch the short film

Disability Inclusion Latest

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A panel of people seated, with one man speaking to the group.

Youth Changemakers Leading the Conversation on Disability Inclusion

The Mastercard Foundation prioritizes elevating the voices of all youth, including the voices of young people with disabilities.

Recently, the Foundation hosted a roundtable aimed at elevating the voices of young people with disabilities — all of whom are working to drive innovative change in their communities.

In Africa, people with disabilities make up over 80 million of the continent’s population. They’re twice as likely to be unemployed than their counterparts without disabilities. Additionally, the unemployment rate and barriers to dignified and fulfilling work are even higher for women with disabilities.

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Explore Our Other Focus Areas