Our work is guided by its mission to advance education and financial inclusion to catalyze prosperity in developing countries and to support Indigenous youth in Canada. It was created in 2006 by Mastercard International and operates independently under the governance of its own Board of Directors.

Our Young Africa Works strategy sets out an ambitious goal for the next decade: by 2030, our work will enable 30 million young people in Africa, especially young women, to secure employment they see as dignified and fulfilling. Using youth employment as a key measure of socio-economic progress, we aim to help millions of people to find a pathway out of poverty.

As part of the strategy, we will deepen our engagement in some countries to better understand their economic aspirations and identify priority sectors for growth. Working with governments and the private sector, we will develop a long-term plan for each country of focus that will:

• Improve the quality of education and vocational training so that they equip young people with the skills employers need;
• Leverage technology to connect employers and job seekers, and drive growth; and
• Enable entrepreneurs and small businesses to expand through access to financial services.

As we do this, we will continue to learn, share knowledge, catalyze innovation, and mobilize others across the continent.