World Bank’s Secondary Education in Africa Initiative of 2003 to 2008

Application Deadline: 30^th November 2017 at midnight (12:00 am) GMT.

The Mastercard Foundation, together with a group of strategic partners, has initiated a collaborative effort to take stock of progress in expanding access to quality, relevant and inclusive secondary education on the continent and to propose a forward looking agenda. The primary focus of this effort is the role of secondary education in preparing African youth for the future of work and for helping youth to acquire the skills, knowledge, and behaviors necessary to compete and succeed in the job market as responsible citizens, including both informal and formal sectors.

This effort, entitled Secondary Education in Africa Today: Preparing Youth for the Future of Work (SEAT), builds on the World Bank’s Secondary Education in Africa Initiative of 2003 to 2008, which was aimed at African policy makers and development partners, and was intended to take stock of the state of secondary education across the Continent and to identify policy options and evidence based strategies for increased support.

The effort will include a process of ongoing consultation, engagement, and dissemination of these knowledge products widely through a variety of formats. It will engage a diverse set of stakeholders, including African governments and policymakers, secondary education experts, bilateral and multilateral donors, private foundations, NGOs, private sector employers, representatives of civil society, and youth.   Mastercard Foundation seek to have young people influence priorities, provide context, review and discuss findings and recommendations and promote dissemination throughout the research process.

The Mastercard Foundation is convening a group of 5 young people from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) representing a range of perspectives who can contribute to this project study, both as contributors and as ‘ambassadors.’   Youth Ambassadors will provide insights, inputs as well as direct contributions at important junctures, from design to completion and dissemination of the project’s products.  The Foundation seeks balance in the selection of Ambassadors in terms of region, gender, and experience, including experiences with conflicts, disability, refugee status, education etc.

The Foundation is partnering with the Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) to engage Sub-Saharan African policymakers and youth throughout this process.  ADEA will take a lead role in working with the Youth Ambassadors and facilitating their participation and inputs in the process.

Selection Process:

• Ambassadors will be selected by the Mastercard Foundation’s and ADEA’s networks to ensure the full range of diverse opinions.
• As part of the selection process, applicants will be asked to submit an essay (details on the essay question below).
• Applicants have to submit all required documents by 30^th November 2017 at midnight.
• The selection will be based on an assessment of the essay and curriculum vitae.

Essay (500 words):

Time Commitment and Role