2023 Q4 Board Book (Staff)

The December 13-14th, 2023 Board Meeting demonstrated the Foundation's commitment to strategic partnerships, program development and impact measurement.

Key activities and initiatives included:

1) Board Meetings and Strategy: The Foundation held board meetings to discuss strategy, including a review of key takeaways from the Foundation Strategy Review, and to align with national economic strategies. The Foundation is also developing a 2–3-year planning cycle to assess performance and talent.

2) Program Performance Review: The Foundation conducted reviews of program performance, including a baseline study in Uganda. The Uganda study highlighted that while Foundation-supported youth experienced greater access to dignified work compared to the general population, disparities persist based on location, gender, and socio-economic status.

3) Strategic Initiatives: The Foundation is working to implement roadmaps, develop program portfolios, and create a pipeline of continental programs. The Foundation is focused on scaling impact through entrepreneurship and workforce development, and supporting rural and marginalized communities. A key goal is to align country strategies with governments' economic priorities. This includes the formation of National Advisory Committees.

4) The Foundation also discussed key programs including those with Young Africa Works, Community Health Workforce Development, African Higher Education Health Collaborative (AHEHC), Tuzimbe Initiative, Sustaining Excellence in African Higher Education Fund, and Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL).

5) Digital and Technology Focus: The Foundation is increasing its focus on digital skills and technology-driven solutions. This includes a new Digital Jobs for Youth in Health program, and a partnership to support digital accessibility for youth with disabilities.

6) Partnerships: The Foundation is actively developing new partnerships and scaling existing ones in various sectors. This includes partnerships in agriculture, such as the COFFEE program in Uganda, and the cashew value chain development in Senegal. The Foundation is working with organizations in the financial sector, such as the International Finance Corporation. There are ongoing partnerships with educational institutions like Ashesi University and African Leadership International (ALI) now known as Sand Technologies.

7) Inclusion: The Foundation is committed to gender equality, with a goal of reaching 70% women in its programs. The Foundation is focusing on the inclusion of marginalized groups, such as refugees, people with disabilities, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

8) Impact and Learning: The Foundation is working to improve its monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Baseline studies are being conducted in various countries, such as Uganda, to assess program impact and identify areas for improvement. The Foundation has developed a Culture Roadmap to ensure there is a Foundation culture that enables its working norms with Partners, with its Teams, and Young People.

9) Program Pipeline: The Foundation is developing a strong pipeline of programs, with a focus on key areas like access to finance, workforce development, and leveraging technology. This includes new partnerships in the digital economy, such as a Global Business Services (BPO/IT) program.

These activities show the Foundation's commitment to enabling economic opportunities for young people by focusing on creating inclusive, sustainable, and impactful programs, while addressing systemic challenges.