Ethiopia

Young Africa Works in Ethiopia aligns with the nation’s Homegrown Economic Reform Plan and Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan—a journey towards becoming an industrialized, lower-middle-income country. Our efforts complement key government priorities in transformative sectors such as agribusiness, agro-processing, manufacturing, and the digital economy.

Goal

By 2030, we aim to empower 10 million young Ethiopians, with a focus on young women, to access work they find dignified and fulfilling.
Context

Ethiopia’s economic story is one of remarkable growth and untapped potential. While GDP has soared from $8.24 billion in 2000 to an estimated $205.1 billion in 2024, we recognize the challenges that persist:
National unemployment stands at eight percent, with youth unemployment at 23.2 percent
Women’s unemployment (11.7 percent) is more than double that of men (five percent)
Urban areas face higher unemployment (17.9 percent) compared to rural regions
An estimated 2.5 million new jobs are needed annually to welcome new labour market entrants
These challenges are our call to action, driving our commitment to create meaningful change.
Approach

We are focused on unlocking potential and creating opportunities:
Enhancing access to finance, education, and skills
Leveraging digital technology to open new doors
Supporting policy reform efforts that drive inclusive growth
Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship
Building transformative partnerships with impactful organizations
Priority

Agribusiness and Agriculture-Adjacent Sectors:
Empowering youth through skills training and productivity enhancement
Unlocking opportunities by improving access to finance and markets
Nurturing growth by supporting agri-enterprises and agro-processing
Manufacturing:
Focusing on value addition through agro-processing
Equipping youth with skills for industrial jobs of the future
Championing manufacturing MSMEs to drive economic growth
Digital Technology:
Bridging the digital divide through comprehensive skills training
Fuelling innovation by supporting tech startups and digital enterprises
Advancing financial inclusion through cutting-edge technology

3rd Annual Partners Learning Summit Newsletter

Young Africa Works in Ethiopia: Five Years of Impactful Journey

On November 29, 2024, partners convened with the team in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to mark a pivotal moment in the five-year journey of Young Africa Works in Ethiopia. This summit, which has been held twice before, stood out for its significant representation of regional partners, signaling an increased collaboration across different sectors and geographies. The theme of the event, “Progress Towards 2030: Improving Execution to Accelerate Impact”, set the tone for discussions on how to build on past successes while intensifying efforts to meet the goals of the Young Africa Works strategy.

Read about the summit

Yamlak Astrat Bogale speaking to an audience — Remember to Stay Connected to Your Roots
Ethiopia

Advocating for an Inclusive World - Mastercard Foundation
Ethiopia

Partners and Programs

The Foundation’s Ethiopia office is located in Addis Ababa and currently supports almost 40 active partnerships in the country. Focus sectors for Young Africa Works in Ethiopia include agribusiness, agro-processing/manufacturing, and the digital economy.