Education and Transitions
Education is a powerful driver of innovation, social cohesion, and economic growth.
Since 2009, the Mastercard Foundation has been committed to education and transitions work across more than 33 African countries, with a focus on secondary and post-secondary education and the transition into dignified and fulfilling work.
Our Approach is Grounded in:
-
Wraparound support that integrates academic, social, and psychosocial support to help young people prepare for, access, and thrive in dignified and fulfilling work.
-
Institutional and systems strengthening by investing in teaching and leadership, governance and quality assurance, and policy frameworks to enable scale.
-
We employ an inclusive approach, incorporating intentional design and measurements to reach young women, young people with disabilities, young refugees and displaced persons, and rural youth.
-
Establishing and nurturing long-term partnerships and multi-year commitments with governments, institutions, employers, and communities to support systems-level change.
-
Focusing on African-led solutions through African institutions, leaders, and communities to ensure contextual fit, ownership, and sustainability of established solutions.
Our partnerships and programs enable young people to transition into the workforce by supporting skill development, employment-readiness, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Secondary Education Programs and Partnerships
We aim to strengthen teacher preparation and leadership, create inclusive learning environments with relevant curriculum, and support technology-enabled learning to improve the quality and reach of education.
Tertiary Education Programs
We are committed to broadening inclusive access to higher education, strengthening institutional excellence, and driving talent and innovation.
Transitions to Work and Entrepreneurship Programs
We bridge education and employment by expanding work-based learning, strengthening career services and professional networks to support the transition from school to work.
Our Education and Transitions Partners
View All
Latest Education and Transitions Research
View All-
Africa Youth Employment Outlook 2026
Education and Transitions Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Mozambique, Egypt, Benin, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Gambia, Eswatini , Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, South Africa, Cameroon, Niger, Morocco, Kenya, Malawi, WAEMU, Chad, Mali, Rwanda, Togo, Somalia -
Young Women in Africa: Agents of Economic Growth and Transformation By 2030
WAEMU, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal -
Young Africa Works – Uganda: Partnerships, Progress, and Impact
Education and Transitions Uganda -
Indigenous Youth Roots: Indigenous Youth Reconciliation Barometer 2024
Education and Transitions Canada
Education and Transitions Latest
-
New Report Deepens Understanding of Africa’s Youth Labour Market
-
Ananse Center for Design Launches in Lagos to Empower Nigerians and Drive Sustainable Innovation
-
African School of Governance’s Pioneer MPA Class Celebrates Matriculation with a Student Dialogue with President Paul Kagame and Former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
-
Mastercard Foundation Announces $235 Million to Post-secondary Educational Institutions in Canada to Recognize Strides Toward Reconciliation
-
New Indigenous Land Stewardship Degree Will Prepare The Next Generation Of Land Protectors To Restore Ecosystems And Take Action On Climate Change
-
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Impress At The 2024 Resolution Social Venture Challenge
-
Evidence that Scales: What Works in EdTech
-
Connecting African Classrooms - Inside Africa's Game-changing Partnerships
-
Strengthening Data-Driven Decision-Making in African Education Systems
-
Digital Skills for Africa: Preparing Young People for the Future of Work
-
Recommendations to Action: Building Resilient Education Systems in Africa
-
Indigenous Youth Are Key Partners in Strengthening Canada’s Security
Docuseries
Education: Transforming Lives, Transforming Africa
A nine-part Pan-African documentary series by the Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute (ALADI), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, spotlighting the institutions, partnerships, and young changemakers driving inclusive, resilient education systems.
