Growth in the agricultural sector contributes proportionally more to poverty reduction than any other economic sector. In this brief, the MasterCard Foundation offers an analysis of the connection between rural agriculture and youth employment.
As the need for agribusiness development in Africa becomes increasingly apparent, organizations seeking to impact the sector must be aware of the opportunities and challenges presented by the continent's growing population of young people. Particularly in rural areas, agriculture, youth employment, and food security are interconnected; rural agribusiness development has the potential to discourage young people from migrating to cities for employment opportunities.
The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. All people, no matter their starting point in life, should have an equal chance to succeed. MCF believes that with access to education, financial services, and skills training, people can have that chance. The foundation focuses on helping economically disadvantaged young people in Sub-Saharan Africa find opportunities to move themselves, their families and their communities out of poverty to a better life.
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