Gender and Youth Livelihoods Programming in Africa

The report explores the gender-related barriers faced by young women and young men, reviews the many approaches that programs take to confront these barriers, and tries to establish whether and how these approaches have been successful. In addition to a literature review, the ODI team conducted primary research with a selection of Mastercard Foundation partnerships – including fieldwork with Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE), Strengthen Rural Youth Development through Enterprise (STRYDE), U-Learn, and Youth in Action in Tanzania and Uganda. This was complemented by secondary research on both Foundation programs and a broader range of interventions outside of Foundation partnerships. The study concludes that “programming with gender-responsive components can have positive effects on gender equality in relation to participation, performance, and opportunities.”