Full Breakdown
Empowering Liberian Youth: FAWE and Mastercard Foundation's New Initiative
10/13/2025, 12:48:24 PM
Overview of the Initiative
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has launched Phase II of a program aimed at enhancing access to inclusive tertiary education and dignified employment opportunities for marginalized youth in Liberia and nine other Sub-Saharan African countries. This initiative, part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, is designed to support approximately 10,550 young people over the next seven years, with a focus on empowering 80% of them as females.
Context and Need in Liberia
Liberia faces significant challenges in youth education and employment, particularly for young women from disadvantaged backgrounds. The country has limited access to tertiary education and high unemployment rates, which hinder youth from entering the workforce. FAWE's program aims to address these barriers by implementing bridging programs, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and entrepreneurship pathways.
Strategic Objectives and Interventions
The program will pursue four main objectives: expanding access to tertiary education, scaling up the Higher Education Access Programme (HEAP), partnering with over 518 institutions, and introducing bridging programs in eight countries. Additionally, FAWE plans to implement Gender-Responsive Pedagogy (GRP) and Tuseme clubs to train 4,750 tutors in gender-sensitive teaching methods.
Support for Employment Transitions
FAWE's initiative includes equipping 1,240 youth with entrepreneurship training and start-up grants, facilitating internships, and establishing mentorship networks through its alumni community. Partnerships with organizations like Mercy Corps and YOCEL will enhance entrepreneurship training and business incubation support.
Government Support and Collaboration
The Government of Liberia has pledged its support for the FAWE-Mastercard Foundation initiative. Officials from the Ministries of Youth and Sports and Education expressed enthusiasm for the program's potential to improve career trajectories for women, particularly in fields traditionally dominated by men, such as engineering and robotics. The Assistant Minister for TVET, Nathaniel K. Cisco, highlighted the goal of training 1,000 girls in artificial intelligence and coding.
Expected Impact and Implementation
The program is projected to directly enroll 1,100 young people in Liberia, including 600 TVET trainees and 500 bridging program participants, across 21 universities and 35 vocational institutions. It aims to create 3,720 new jobs through youth-led enterprises and reach over 1.2 million youth indirectly through systemic reforms. The implementation will follow a phased rollout across the ten target countries, starting with Liberia.
Criticism and Opposition
While the initiative has garnered support, some critics may question the feasibility of achieving such ambitious targets within the proposed timeframe. Concerns about the sustainability of funding and the effectiveness of partnerships in delivering the promised outcomes may also arise.
Conclusion
The FAWE-Mastercard Foundation partnership represents a significant step toward addressing educational and employment barriers for marginalized youth in Liberia. By focusing on gender-responsive education and creating pathways to employment, the initiative aims to foster sustainable and equitable opportunities for the country's young population.
