Explore landmark new data visualization report from Umsizi partner, Shujaaz Inc, based on 13,000 1:1 interviews with young Kenyans, spanning 7 years. Understand three key trends shaping this generation’s future: income & work, sex & relationships, and governance & community.
Envisioning a More Equitable and Just World for All
With a mission of supporting African youth in accessing economic opportunities, Umsizi Fund envisions a world where equity is the norm, and systemic barriers are understood and removed. As part of this vision, Umsizi Fund recognizes the impact of colonial trauma and seeks to support healing through its work. Similarly the Decolonizing Wealth Project works towards a world with racial equity.
Income Growth: A Critical Imperative for Africans
The wealth divide between the rich and the rest of the world continues to grow, with the richest 1% accumulating nearly twice as much wealth as the rest of the world put together over the past two years (Oxfam, 2021). This stark inequality is a major challenge for many around the world, including young Africans, who are often faced with limited job opportunities and tough economic prospects. That's why, at Umsizi Fund, we believe that it is essential to invest in pathways to employment for young Africans.
Supporting Youth Employment Ecosystem Coordination for Impact
Africa’s youth unemployment challenge sits at the crossroads of colliding forces—the youth bulge, job disruption from the fourth industrial revolution, skilling systems that are increasingly disconnected from the reality of youth and market needs, and a changing macroeconomic environment. Organizations addressing youth unemployment are often constrained in their ability to achieve impact at scale unless they are able to work across ecosystems with multiple participants including governments, the private sector, and educational institutions, to produce coordinated responses to this very complex challenge.
Innovative, tenacious and optimistic African leaders are meeting the hopes and aspirations of their communities every day.
Aid spending in Africa must be African-led – it needs a Black Lives Matter reckoning. If we use this pivotal moment to shift funding to grassroots groups we could unlock transformational change.
There is power in proximity. Shifting our giving to prioritise leaders who are African is not only more just – it is more effective. When the global pandemic hit, guess which NGOs pulled staff and fled the continent? Here’s a hint: it wasn’t the locally led organisations. Just as with endless previous crises, African-led organisations have risen to the occasion and delivered to communities when others cannot. This isn’t new. Grassroots organisations are consistently delivering impact at the frontlines – without the benefit of frontline funding.