Mastercard Foundation Nigeria has announced its goal of engaging 10 million Nigerians aged 15 to 35 in decent jobs by 2030 through the Young Africa Works Strategy. The foundation has also provided training to 11 Young Impact Associates (YIAs) over the past year, equipping them with enhanced skills and knowledge in monitoring and evaluation.

 

During a four-day Boot Camp event in Abuja, Nkem Ene, the Project Director for Impact Partner Organisation for the Young Africa Works Strategy, funded by Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, emphasized that the training aimed to empower the YIAs to play an active role in monitoring and evaluating the progress of their age group. The intention is to eliminate condescending attitudes from individuals outside their age bracket and enable the YIAs to decide what aspects should be monitored and how.

 

Ene explained, "The Young Africa Works Project aims to ensure that 30 million young people aged 15 to 35 are engaged in meaningful work with decent wages and dignity by 2030, with 10 million of these young people coming from Nigeria. In later years, the same young people we aim to serve will be the ones evaluating our progress. The 11 Young Impact Associates who have been trained over the past year in monitoring and evaluation can shape the monitoring and evaluation landscape in Nigeria. They will have the opportunity to decide what should be monitored for their age group and how it should be done."

 

As the first cohort of YIAs, the program involved a range of learning methods, including in-person and online classes, as well as engagement through blogs to enhance writing skills. The YIAs were also placed in organizations where they could contribute to the monitoring and evaluation processes. After completing their assignments, mentoring sessions were conducted to discuss their experiences, address any concerns or complaints, and provide support.

 

The Young Africa Works Strategy, led by Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, aims to empower young Nigerians with meaningful employment opportunities, fostering their personal and professional development while contributing to the overall growth and development of the country.