Youth Forward Initiative

  • P Project/Program

? Activity Status: Unknown

Key Information

The Youth Forward initiative links young people to quality employment or entrepreneurship opportunities in the agricultural and construction sectors in Ghana and Uganda. This five-year partnership led by Mastercard Foundation, Overseas Development Institute, Global Communities, Solidaridad, NCBA CLUSA, and GOAL will reach more than 200,000 economically disadvantaged youth aged 15–24. The initiative uses an approach that combines market-relevant skills training, mentorship, internships, and access to financial services to help young people better their lives, transition to sustainable livelihoods, and contribute to social and economic change. Youth Forward demonstrates how working with partners from multiple sectors can lead to greater impact and influence policymakers and others to adopt and support successful youth employment and entrepreneurship models.


Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ghana, Uganda

Government Affiliation

Non-governmental program

Years

Not applicable or unknown

Partner(s)

Global Communities, Solidaridad, NCBA CLUSA, GOAL

Ministry Affiliation

Unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

Global / regional

Meets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES  

Unknown

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Other skills

  • Social and emotional learning
  • Vocational training

Quality

  • Curricula/lesson plans
  • School quality

Cross-cutting areas

  • Economic/livelihoods (including savings/financial inclusion, etc.)
  • Mentorship

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Boys (both in school and out of school), Girls (both in school and out of school), Youth

Age

15 - 24

School Enrolment Status

Some in school

School Level

Not applicable or unknown

Other populations reached

Not applicable or unknown

Participants include

Not applicable or unknown

Program Approaches Back to Top

Learning while working

  • Vocational training

Mentoring/psychosocial support

  • Adult (non-teacher) mentors

Reducing economic barriers

  • Financial literacy training

Teaching

  • Teaching materials (e.g. lesson plans, curricula)

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Improved social and emotional learning/skills and mindsets

Cross-cutting goals

  • Increased agency and empowerment
  • Increased employment/job-related skills
  • Reduced poverty/increase household well-being