How The African Talent Company and Mastercard Foundation are scaling youth employability across Africa

In a world increasingly shaped by technology, the promise of opportunity often comes with a catch: “access”. For millions of African youth, particularly those in marginalised communities, the digital revolution has been a double-edged sword, offering pathways to economic empowerment but also exposing stark inequalities.

In Nigeria, a partnership between The African Talent Company (TATC) and the Mastercard Foundation is flipping this narrative, leveraging low-bandwidth digital tools and community-driven strategies to bridge the gap. Now, this model is scaling across East Africa, with early successes in Kenya and Uganda signalling a new era for inclusive youth employment.

Since 2020, TATC, through its Jobberman Nigeria platform, has worked under the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy to train over 2.4 million young Nigerians aged 18 to 35 and facilitate more than 600,000 job placements. The initiative has prioritised inclusive, dignified work, focusing on underserved groups such as women in disadvantaged communities, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

By using data-driven approaches and accessible digital solutions, the partnership has created opportunities where barriers once stood, particularly in regions with limited internet connectivity or economic infrastructure.

The recent Technology and Employment Inclusion in Marginalised Contexts (TEIMC) Roundtable, held in Abuja, Nigeria, marked a crucial moment in this journey. Convening leaders from government, civil society, tech, and the private sector, the event shifted the spotlight to Africa’s most vulnerable youth. Discussions centred on dismantling structural and digital barriers to employment, with a focus on how technology can serve as a tool for inclusion rather than exclusion. 

As noted by Hilda Kabushenga, CEO of The African Talent Company, “Technology can and must be a force for inclusion, not division. As the world of work evolves, we must ensure that no one is left behind.”

A groundbreaking report launched at the Roundtable, titled Technology and Employment Inclusion in Marginalised Contexts, offered sobering insights. 

It revealed that 72% of Nigerian employers make no effort toward inclusive hiring, underscoring the systemic challenges facing marginalised groups. Yet, the report also highlighted glimmers of progress: 55% of PWDs and 44% of displaced women surveyed had secured work, primarily through self-employment in creative media and agriculture. These sectors, enabled by digital tools and remote work opportunities, are proving to be vital entry points for populations often excluded from traditional job markets.

“Inclusion is not a side conversation; it is the main agenda,” said Rosy Fynn, Country Director of Mastercard Foundation Nigeria. 

Her words reflect the partnership’s commitment to designing systems that centre marginalised groups, ensuring they are not just considered but prioritised. The Roundtable’s policy briefs and recommendations are set to shape the Young Africa Works learning agenda, guiding future employer training, platform design, and inclusive employment programmes across Nigeria and beyond.

TATC sets out to replicate its success in East Africa

The impact of this initiative is now rippling beyond Nigeria’s borders. 

Building on five years of success, TATC and the Mastercard Foundation are scaling their efforts to East Africa through BrighterMonday platforms in Kenya and Uganda. In Kampala, BrighterMonday Uganda recently hosted a Career Clinic under the theme “Skills For Today: Empowering Uganda’s Youth To Take Control Of Their Future.”

The event offered young job seekers CV reviews, coaching, and digital skills training, fostering hands-on work-readiness. Similar initiatives are underway in Kenya, signalling a regional push to equip Africa’s youth with the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market.

Axel Konjack, Head of Global Marketplaces and a member of the Ringier Group Executive Board, emphasised the broader implications: “Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce, and that presents both an incredible opportunity and a responsibility.” He called for increased investment in skills development and access to ensure young Africans can compete in a global economy.

What makes this partnership unique is its refusal to treat inclusion as an afterthought. By prioritising low-bandwidth digital solutions, TATC and the Mastercard Foundation are ensuring that even youth in remote or underserved areas can access training and job opportunities. 

This approach is particularly critical in a continent where internet penetration remains uneven. By designing solutions that work within these constraints, the partnership is setting a new standard for scalable, equitable employment programs.

The expansion into East Africa comes at a critical time. With Africa’s youth population projected to reach 830 million by 2050, according to the African Development Bank, the need for sustainable, inclusive employment solutions has never been greater. 

The successes in Nigeria offer a blueprint for what’s possible when technology is harnessed with intention. As Kabushenga put it, “The partnership in Nigeria has laid a strong foundation, but the real work has just begun.”

For young Africans like those attending the Kampala Career Clinic or navigating Jobberman’s digital platform in Nigeria, this initiative is not just another programme but a lifeline. By centring inclusion and leveraging technology, TATC and the Mastercard Foundation are not just creating jobs; they are rewriting the story of who gets to participate in Africa’s economic future.