Mastercard Foundation Opportunities for Refugees and Displaced Young People support access to education, digital skills, employment, entrepreneurship and higher education across Africa. The initiatives are designed to help refugee and forcibly displaced youth, particularly young women, build skills and transition into dignified and fulfilling work.
The Mastercard Foundation Opportunities for Refugees and Displaced Young People form part of the Foundation’s broader efforts to expand education and employment pathways for young people affected by displacement in Africa.
According to the Foundation, Africa is home to nearly one-third of the world’s refugees and displaced persons. Through its Young Africa Works strategy, the Mastercard Foundation aims to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, including 2.5 million refugees and displaced persons, with young women representing 70% of that target.
The approach recognizes that refugees and forcibly displaced people can contribute significantly to their communities when they have access to quality education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship and supportive systems.
Background & Opportunities for Refugees and Displaced Young People
The Mastercard Foundation’s refugee and displaced persons strategy is built around the belief that young people affected by displacement should have opportunities to learn, work and build sustainable futures regardless of their status.
The Foundation focuses on three interconnected areas:
- Secondary Education: Expanding access to and improving the quality of secondary education for displaced youth, with particular attention to girls and young women.
- Transitions to Work: Strengthening pathways connecting young refugees and displaced persons to employment, entrepreneurship and tertiary education.
- Policy Implementation: Supporting policies and systems that allow refugees and displaced persons to build sustainable and self-reliant futures.
These areas are intended to address some of the barriers that displaced young people face when attempting to continue their education or enter the workforce.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the major education opportunities connected to the Foundation’s refugee and displaced persons strategy.
The program works with universities and NGOs to help talented young people, primarily Africans, pursue higher education and develop leadership potential.
The Foundation states that in 2019 it set a target for 25% of students recruited into the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to be refugees and displaced persons.
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Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Importantly, the Scholars Program does not operate through one universal application form. Applications and selection are managed by participating universities and organizations. Prospective applicants should therefore identify an affiliated institution and follow its specific application requirements.
Secondary Education Opportunities
Secondary education is one of the three pillars of the Foundation’s refugee and displaced persons strategy.
The focus includes expanding access, improving retention and strengthening the overall quality of secondary education for displaced youth.
Girls and young women receive particular attention because educational interruptions can create significant barriers to later employment and economic participation.
The Foundation’s work in this area is therefore aimed not only at getting young people into school but also at creating conditions that help them remain in education and successfully transition to their next stage.
Skills and Entrepreneurship Opportunities
Skills development is another important component of the Foundation’s approach.
Programs implemented through Foundation partners seek to equip refugee and displaced youth with skills that can support employment and entrepreneurship.
The Foundation specifically identifies partnerships involving organizations such as UNHCR, Inkomoko and the Amahoro Coalition as part of efforts to develop skills, support transitions into employment or entrepreneurship and engage the private sector.
This means opportunities may extend beyond traditional academic scholarships to vocational training, entrepreneurship support and programs designed around specific employment sectors.
Digital Skills Opportunities
Digital skills are increasingly important for young people seeking employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The Foundation lists Digital Skills for Employability among its programs supporting refugees and displaced persons.
Digital Skills for Employability
The Foundation also lists the Digital Skills for Teachers and Educational Professionals (DSTEP) program among its refugee and displaced persons programs.
Digital Skills for Teachers and Educational Professionals (DSTEP)
Eligibility and availability can vary depending on the implementing partner and country.
Employment and Entrepreneurship Pathways
A major objective of the refugee and displaced persons strategy is helping young people transition from education and training into work.
The Foundation’s approach includes strengthening pathways toward:
- Employment
- Entrepreneurship
- Tertiary education
- Skills development
- Private-sector opportunities
This is important because education alone may not provide a complete pathway to economic independence. Programs therefore seek to connect young people with employers, entrepreneurs, private-sector organizations and other institutions.
Support for Refugee-Led Organizations
The Mastercard Foundation also recognizes the role of organizations led by refugees and displaced people.
According to the Foundation, refugee-led organizations are trusted by their communities and can develop innovative solutions to challenges affecting displaced populations.
One example highlighted by the Foundation is its partnership with the Youth Initiative for Development in Africa, which provides early childhood education and skills-building to young refugees and host communities in Uganda’s Kyaka II settlement.
This approach allows programs to work with organizations that understand the realities of the communities they serve.
Where Are These Opportunities Available?
The Foundation says it is expanding programs in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia, where it is implementing the Young Africa Works strategy.
These programs are designed to support both refugees and displaced persons and their host communities.
However, this does not mean that every program is available to applicants from all four countries. Individual initiatives have their own geographical scope, eligibility criteria and application procedures.
Applicants should therefore check the specific program or partner before preparing an application.
Who Can Benefit?
The opportunities described by the Foundation may be relevant to:
- Refugees and forcibly displaced young people
- Young women affected by displacement
- Displaced students seeking secondary or higher education
- Young people seeking vocational and digital skills
- Refugee and displaced youth interested in entrepreneurship
- Young people preparing for employment
- Refugee-led organizations working with displaced communities
- Young people from host communities participating in relevant programs
Eligibility is determined by the individual program or implementing partner.
How to Find and Apply
There is no single application process for all Mastercard Foundation refugee and displaced persons opportunities.
Applicants should:
- Identify the specific program or scholarship.
- Check whether refugees or displaced persons are eligible.
- Confirm the country and target group.
- Review the official eligibility requirements.
- Prepare the required documents.
- Apply through the designated university, NGO or program partner.
- Follow the stated deadline and application instructions.
For scholarship opportunities, applicants should pay particular attention to the requirements of individual participating universities.
The Foundation also warns about fraudulent recruitment. It states that it does not solicit funding or request payments from individuals in connection with the Scholars Program. Applicants should be cautious of unofficial social media groups or individuals requesting application fees in exchange for access to Mastercard Foundation opportunities.
Additional Information
The Mastercard Foundation’s refugee and displaced persons strategy goes beyond scholarships. It combines education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship and policy work to create more sustainable pathways for displaced youth.
The Foundation’s stated objective includes supporting 2.5 million refugees and displaced persons, 70% of whom are young women, as part of its broader 2030 Young Africa Works employment goal.
The Foundation also supports higher education access through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and works with partners to expand skills and entrepreneurship opportunities.
For current opportunities, applicants should always verify information through the official Mastercard Foundation page and the relevant implementing organization.
Mastercard Foundation – Refugees and Displaced Persons
Final Thoughts
Mastercard Foundation Opportunities for Refugees and Displaced Young People provide several pathways toward education, skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
The opportunities are particularly relevant to young refugees, forcibly displaced persons and young women who face barriers to continuing education or entering the workforce.
Because the Foundation works through universities, NGOs and other partners, applicants should avoid treating the opportunities as one centralized scholarship or application program. Each initiative has its own requirements, participating locations and deadlines.
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