2014 Q1 Board Book (Staff)

The March 5-6th, 2014 Board Meeting focused on expanding access to education and economic opportunities for youth, particularly in Africa, alongside efforts to enhance its brand and internal capacity. The Foundation is actively pursuing its 2020 goals, which include promoting financial inclusion and increasing economic opportunities and educational attainment for young people.

Key activities and initiatives during this period include:

1) Developing a High-Impact Initiative: The Foundation is aiming to develop a high-impact initiative in Africa that will advance its vision of creating opportunities for all to learn and prosper. This includes considering the Foundation’s desired reputation, the problems it should address, and the level of impact it aims for.

2) Reputation and Communications: The Foundation is shifting from a generalist approach to a more focused strategy to build its brand, prioritizing specific activities aimed at driving awareness among targeted audiences. This includes a brand audit, developing an audience framework, and expanding communications channels. It is also exploring media underwriting to reach a larger audience.

3) Economic Opportunities for Youth: The Foundation aims to "own" the youth economic opportunities space in Africa, highlighting its unique and significant approach. It is planning an event in Africa to engage key players in the development community and highlight its innovative approach to economic opportunities for youth.

4) Financial Inclusion: The Foundation continues to advance its financial inclusion goals, with a focus on client-centric approaches and innovation in product development. The Foundation is also working to increase access to financial services for unbanked households and improve their capacity to use these services.

5) Scholars Program: The Foundation is building the Scholars brand and demonstrating the program's impact, with the first cohort of scholars set to graduate. The Foundation is also supporting initiatives such as the African Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarships Fund.

6) Program Implementation: The Foundation approved new projects aimed at improving work-readiness skills for secondary students in Rwanda and Tanzania. It also approved projects focused on developing e-learning platforms for financial inclusion professionals and supporting agricultural finance for smallholder farmers.

7) Internal Development: The Foundation is focused on developing its internal capabilities, including leadership, competencies, and talent management. It is creating competency profiles for different levels within the organization to establish a high performing team.

The Foundation’s activities in the first quarter of 2014 reflect a commitment to strategic program development, innovative partnerships, and a focus on learning and impact with a clear emphasis on expanding opportunities for youth and promoting financial inclusion in Africa. The Foundation is also working to refine its brand and strengthen its internal operations.