December 2024

Dear LinkedIn Community,

We cannot believe it is already our last newsletter of 2024! For the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment Team it is time to slow down and start reflecting on our past year. The milestones we achieved this month (100k jobs!!) and the new partnerships created (launching Call6) are just the tip of the iceberg of the hard work our team and implementing partners put into this project. Now it's time to celebrate all our accomplishments and get ready to create, match and improve 230.000 jobs by 2026!

Every month, we are committed to showing you how CFYE is not merely a program, but a catalyst for change. Beyond the numerical aspects, this newsletter will shine light on our partners, beneficiaries and the great knowledge they share and create through our programme.

Enjoy your reading!

?Future Economies Start with Youth - The Podcast is back with a brand new episode ?

Titled "Localising Impact - The CFYE Approach" - Episode 16 sheds light on how localisation is reshaping international development and empowering communities to drive their own progress. CFYE Country Leads, Ola Farrag, Lina Al Khawaja, and Andrew Magunda joined Kevin Eustatia Palm in a discussion about the importance of putting local voices and youth at the forefront, not only for creating relevant, impactful solutions, but for fostering resilience and long-term sustainability. In addition, Ola, Lina and Andrew will shine light to how CFYE's tailored approach leverages local knowledge and partnerships to create lasting change for youth employment.

Impact Story: Setting Cybersecurity Talent Up for Success: Guiding Young Professionals in Kenya with Cyber Shujaa’s Placement Officers

As Kenya continues to strengthen its digital infrastructure, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals will only increase. Cyber Shujaa is playing a critical role in preparing the next generation of experts to meet this demand from a practical and human angle. Placement officers like Monica Kanyutu and AKOTH JANE are key in guiding and supporting graduates for a smoother transition into the job market. Read the stories of young Cyber Shujaa graduates - Martin Juma, Brenda K., Stella Ndiritu and the support that their mentors gave them to discover their career path.

Impact Story: Resilience in Action: Darlene Clarke-Okah’s Menstrual Health Empire and Entrepreneurial Journey with Shecluded

To celebrate #WomenEntrepreneurshipDay we celebrate the work of Darlene Clarke-Okah, a young social entrepreneur in Nigeria. From her early experiences with adversity in Liberia to rebuilding her life in Nigeria, Darlene transformed personal challenges into a mission that uplifts countless women. Through her business Femme Avenue, Darlene not only addresses menstrual health and period poverty, but also empowers women with the knowledge and skills to achieve financial independence. With the support of Shecluded's CFYE-backed FINWOMEN Programme, she gained the critical financial and leadership skills needed to help her grow Femme Avenue into a thriving business.

Case Study: Driving Growth and Empowering Leaders: CFYE’s Leadership Development Programme

We partnered with the African Management Institute to deliver a Leadership Development Programme designed to equip senior managers and C-suite leaders with the tools to empower their teams, foster innovation, and drive sustainable growth. Graduates Clare Nattabi, Salma Elias, Mohammad Alkhudari, and Basel Mostafa ElSaady shared how the programme impacted their leadership styles—from improving communication and streamlining operations to fostering psychological safety and autonomy within their teams.

We re-activated 2 of our Implementing Partners in Sudan!

On April 15th, 2023, the start of the war in Sudan led to a devastating humanitarian crisis marked by thousands of deaths, the internal displacement of over 11 million people, and more than 6 million fleeing the country. At the time, our Sudan portfolio included four implementing partners.

The of war brought immense challenges, as our partners, like many Sudanese businesses, faced significant financial losses, operational disruptions, and the tragic loss of lives. Amidst these challenges, one of our IPs was unfortunately unable to continue and ceased operations.

Despite this setback, we remained steadfast in supporting the remaining three partners, collaborating closely with them to adapt and redesign their projects to meet the evolving realities on the ground. In December, after more than 18 months of resilience and dedication, we are thrilled to announce the successful reactivation of two of three remaining IPs: 249Startups and Alsalam Factory. Their devotion is a testament to the enduring spirit of Sudanese entrepreneurship and hope for the future!

?Highlights from Senegal

On December 5th and 6th, our Team in Senegal hosted an insightful Forum on Women and Youth Employment.

With a variety of stakeholders from the public and private sector, and the amazing?input of our Implementing Partners, we unveiled the possible paths towards inclusive employment for Senegalese youth.

One of the main challenges identified was the skills gap. It is essential for governments to enhance communication about existing opportunities for skills building and TVET, particularly in rural areas, to make sure youth knows about the opportunities present across the entire country.

A major highlight was the launch of the Youth Network for Job Creation by the Conseil National de la Jeunesse. This platform aims to connect various actors and initiatives, facilitate information and opportunity sharing, and serve as a co-creation space for future programs.

And it's a wrap for 2024!

The CFYE Team wishes all of you a happy and restful holiday period. Whether you are celebrating or not, we hope you can take some time off to spend with your loved ones and recharge for a new, exciting year!

Thank you for your support to the CFYE Team and its Partners, we are looking forward to bring you with us through an impactful 2025!