The Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works programme provides co‑investment grants of $500,000 to $50 million for large‑scale projects that create dignified work for young people in agriculture, technology, education or financial services. It is open to registered NGOs, social enterprises and educational institutions operating in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania or Uganda, and expects applicants to demonstrate the capacity to deliver and monitor programmes at scale.
The single most important factor is proving that your organisation can move beyond pilots to a fully‑scaled operation that generates measurable, quality employment for young Africans, especially women. Show clear targets, a solid monitoring framework that tracks job quality and income, and evidence of past large‑scale delivery. Once those elements are solid, the application process becomes a matter of aligning with the Young Africa Works strategy and submitting the required documentation through the Foundation’s online form.
Key facts
- Provider: Mastercard Foundation
- Funding: $500,000 – $50,000,000
- Who it is for: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal
- Status: Open (rolling)
Who can apply
- Registered NGOs operating in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, or Uganda
- Social enterprises with legal registration in an eligible country
- Educational institutions based in eligible countries
- Organisations with demonstrated capacity to deliver and monitor large-scale programmes
- Partners and implementing organisations aligned with Young Africa Works strategy goals (job creation, women's participation, agriculture/technology/financial services)
- Organisations with credible monitoring and evaluation frameworks in place
Who cannot apply
- Unregistered organisations or individuals applying independently
- Organisations operating outside the eight eligible African countries
- Programmes that do not address dignified work creation for young people
Documents you will need
- Proof of legal registration as an NGO, social enterprise, or educational institution
- Detailed programme proposal showing alignment with Young Africa Works strategy
- Evidence of organisational capacity to deliver at scale (past projects, team structure, partnerships)
- Monitoring and evaluation framework specific to your proposed programme
- Financial projections and budget breakdown for the grant period
- Details of co-investment partners (if applicable)
- Documentation of your track record managing similar or larger programmes
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm your organisation is legally registered in one of the eight eligible countries and operates in agriculture, technology, education, or financial services
- Review the Young Africa Works strategy and ensure your programme creates dignified employment for young Africans, particularly women
- Prepare a comprehensive proposal including your monitoring and evaluation framework and evidence of capacity to deliver at large scale
- Gather supporting documents: registration papers, past programme reports, team CVs, financial statements, and co-investment commitments
- Contact the Mastercard Foundation through their website form, selecting 'Program Request: Young Africa Works' or the country relevant to your organisation
- Submit your application materials and await assessment
How applications are assessed
The Foundation assesses applications against demonstrated organisational capacity, programme scale, alignment with Young Africa Works goals, and quality of monitoring frameworks. Grants range from $500,000 to $50 million depending on programme scope. The Foundation typically engages in dialogue with shortlisted applicants to clarify proposal details before final funding decisions. Response timelines are not published; you should expect several months for review.
Tips to improve your chances
- Emphasise your organisation's track record delivering programmes at scale, not just pilot projects
- Show how your programme will create documented, dignified employment (not casual or informal work) for measurable numbers of young people
- Demonstrate specific focus on women's participation with concrete targets and strategies
- Present a realistic monitoring framework that tracks job quality, retention, and income outcomes, not just participation numbers
- Clarify your co-investment partners and how their funding combines with the Mastercard grant to reach programme scale
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting a proposal that focuses on casual or informal work instead of dignified, paid employment – avoid this by specifying job contracts, wages and retention targets.
- Presenting pilot‑project results as evidence of scale – replace them with examples of programmes that have already reached thousands of beneficiaries or that have been funded at a comparable budget.
- Leaving the monitoring and evaluation plan vague – detail indicators for job quality, income growth and women’s participation, and explain data collection methods.
- Omitting clear co‑investment commitments – list partner contributions and show how they combine with the Mastercard grant to reach the total programme budget.
- Applying without confirming legal registration in one of the eight eligible countries – verify your registration documents and include them in the initial submission.
Frequently asked questions
Does my organisation need to have been operating for a certain number of years?
The sources do not specify a minimum operating history. However, you must demonstrate capacity to deliver large-scale programmes, which typically requires evidence from past projects or partnerships.
Can individuals or sole proprietors apply?
No. Only registered organisations—NGOs, social enterprises, and educational institutions—are eligible.
What is the application deadline?
No specific deadline is published. This appears to be a rolling programme, meaning applications may be accepted throughout the year. Contact the Foundation directly for current submission windows.
Do I need a co-investment partner to apply?
The sources describe the grants as 'co-investment' but do not explicitly require a partner. It is advisable to clarify this with the Foundation before submitting.
What happens if I apply and am not funded?
The sources do not specify feedback or reapplication processes. You can contact the Foundation to request clarification on your application outcome.
Before you apply
Open the Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works listing on GrantPilot for the verified application link and deadline reminders. Check whether you qualify in two minutes with the free eligibility checker, then run your business plan through the Readiness Score to see what a reviewer would mark down.
Information checked against the programme’s own page on 26 October 2026. Programmes change their rules, so always confirm on the official page before you submit.
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