Quicklinks: Our Impact – Green Jobs – Digital Jobs

Creating, matching and improving 230.000 jobs for young women and men

in Subsaharan Africa and the Middle East.

More about the fund

The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) is a 7-year programme funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Fund is managed by the Palladium Group, Randstad and VSO. 

Our Impact

Empowering Women in Digital: Sara Muawad’s Journey with Madfoatcom

Empowering Women in Digital: Sara Muawad’s Journey with Madfoatcom

agriculture Create digital skills digitaljobs Increase in jobs stable income
Ilaria Blasi   March 31, 2025  
For many students in their final years of college or university, a mix of eagerness and fear about the future begins to build. This blend of emotions can be both motivating and challenging, sometimes taking a toll on their confidence. In contexts like Jordan, where a significant portion of the young population is unemployed, the situation is even more daunting. Young women face additional challenges due to gaps in digital literacy, compounded by an unfavorable employment environment. 
Read More

More Impact Stories:

Empowering Women in Digital: Sara Muawad’s Journey with Madfoatcom

Empowering Women in Digital: Sara Muawad’s Journey with Madfoatcom

Impact stories Uganda
Ilaria Blasi   March 31, 2025  
For many students in their final years of college or university, a mix of eagerness and fear about the future begins to build. This blend of emotions can be both motivating and challenging, sometimes taking a toll on their confidence. In contexts like Jordan, where a significant portion of the young population is unemployed, the situation is even more daunting. Young women face additional challenges due to gaps in digital literacy, compounded by an unfavorable employment environment. 
Read More
Breaking Barriers Beyond Borders: Ishobora Allen’s Journey from Refugee to Resilient Farmer

Breaking Barriers Beyond Borders: Ishobora Allen’s Journey from Refugee to Resilient Farmer

Impact stories Uganda
Faatimah Clarke   March 3, 2025  
Nigerian women working in the agricultural sector are negatively impacted by various systemic barriers. With limited access to land, financing, and technology they are often relegated to manual, low-income roles. Cultural norms and gender-based stereotypes also influence their access to roles that are usually taken on by men, for example in mechanisation or as tractor drivers, as they are seen as “too manly” for women. Being surrounded by such beliefs can be discouraging for young women trying to enter the growing AgriTech sector. Yet, three talented and passionate women from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Abuja proved these beliefs wrong.
Read More
Women Driving the Change in Nigeria – Literally!

Women Driving the Change in Nigeria – Literally!

Impact stories Nigeria
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 5, 2025  
Nigerian women working in the agricultural sector are negatively impacted by various systemic barriers. With limited access to land, financing, and technology they are often relegated to manual, low-income roles. Cultural norms and gender-based stereotypes also influence their access to roles that are usually taken on by men, for example in mechanisation or as tractor drivers, as they are seen as “too manly” for women. Being surrounded by such beliefs can be discouraging for young women trying to enter the growing AgriTech sector. Yet, three talented and passionate women from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Abuja proved these beliefs wrong.
Read More

All Stories »

Empowering Women in Digital: Sara Muawad’s Journey with Madfoatcom

Empowering Women in Digital: Sara Muawad’s Journey with Madfoatcom

Impact stories Uganda
Ilaria Blasi   March 31, 2025  
For many students in their final years of college or university, a mix of eagerness and fear about the future begins to build. This blend of emotions can be both motivating and challenging, sometimes taking a toll on their confidence. In contexts like Jordan, where a significant portion of the young population is unemployed, the situation is even more daunting. Young women face additional challenges due to gaps in digital literacy, compounded by an unfavorable employment environment. 
Read More
When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

Case study Nigeria
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 25, 2025  
When Nkem Okocha, founder and CEO of Mamamoni, was just a young girl, she tragically lost her father. Suddenly, she watched her mother struggle to provide for the family, with no formal education and no access to capital. "In Nigeria, there are no safety nets," Nkem explains. Her mother was fortunate to receive a small amount of money, which she used to start a business, ensuring that her children could go to school. But as Nkem grew older, she realised her family's story was not unique. She saw women all around her community facing the same hardship. It was then that she made a promise to herself: once she had the means, she would help women like her mother gain financial independence. That promise became the foundation of Mamamoni.
Read More

More Case Studies:

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

Case study Nigeria
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 25, 2025  
When Nkem Okocha, founder and CEO of Mamamoni, was just a young girl, she tragically lost her father. Suddenly, she watched her mother struggle to provide for the family, with no formal education and no access to capital. "In Nigeria, there are no safety nets," Nkem explains. Her mother was fortunate to receive a small amount of money, which she used to start a business, ensuring that her children could go to school. But as Nkem grew older, she realised her family's story was not unique. She saw women all around her community facing the same hardship. It was then that she made a promise to herself: once she had the means, she would help women like her mother gain financial independence. That promise became the foundation of Mamamoni.
Read More
CheckUps – Revolutionising Healthcare Access and Job Creation in Kenya

CheckUps – Revolutionising Healthcare Access and Job Creation in Kenya

Case study Kenya
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 24, 2025  
CheckUps, an urgent care service offering both online and in-person medical dispatch, is transforming Kenya’s healthcare sector. By providing affordable healthcare for underserved Kenyans through an innovative financing model and a network of young nurses, CheckUps is addressing two critical challenges: limited healthcare access and high underemployment among medical professionals. “The need for healthcare is massive. 20% of African households borrow monthly for health bills, while there are 20,000 nurses that are underemployed in Kenya. The healthcare sector should be one of the largest employers in Africa, but jobs are not being created,” explains Dr. Moka Lantum, CEO and CO-Founder of CheckUps. By aligning healthcare payments with the irregular income flows of informal workers and the elderly, who struggle with lump-sum fees, CheckUps reduces annual costs by 60%. This approach improves health equity and expands employment opportunities. Currently, profit margins in the healthcare sector make it difficult for companies to hire staff. For example, on a $50 medication, the margin is only $7, and for generic medicines costing $5, the margin drops to just 7 cents. Such thin margins limit job creation, Dr. Moka Lantum demonstrates.
Read More
Beyond Jobs – Generation Kenya’s Mission to Sustainable Youth Employment

Beyond Jobs – Generation Kenya’s Mission to Sustainable Youth Employment

Case study Kenya
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 21, 2025  
In Kenya, 800,000 to 1 million young people enter the job market annually, yet opportunities remain scarce. Furthermore, as industries evolve, traditional employment declines, making it even harder for youth to secure jobs. Enter Generation Kenya, a non-profit launched in 2015, tackling this crisis by equipping young people, especially those facing the highest systemic barriers, with critical skills and job placements that would otherwise be inaccessible. Their mission creates a win-win situation that bridges the gap between job seekers and businesses in need of skilled talent.
Read More

All Studies »

Case Studies

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

Create Finance Increase in jobs nigeria stable income youth engagement
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 25, 2025  
When Nkem Okocha, founder and CEO of Mamamoni, was just a young girl, she tragically lost her father. Suddenly, she watched her mother struggle to provide for the family, with no formal education and no access to capital. "In Nigeria, there are no safety nets," Nkem explains. Her mother was fortunate to receive a small amount of money, which she used to start a business, ensuring that her children could go to school. But as Nkem grew older, she realised her family's story was not unique. She saw women all around her community facing the same hardship. It was then that she made a promise to herself: once she had the means, she would help women like her mother gain financial independence. That promise became the foundation of Mamamoni.
Read More

More Case Studies:

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

Case study Nigeria
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 25, 2025  
When Nkem Okocha, founder and CEO of Mamamoni, was just a young girl, she tragically lost her father. Suddenly, she watched her mother struggle to provide for the family, with no formal education and no access to capital. "In Nigeria, there are no safety nets," Nkem explains. Her mother was fortunate to receive a small amount of money, which she used to start a business, ensuring that her children could go to school. But as Nkem grew older, she realised her family's story was not unique. She saw women all around her community facing the same hardship. It was then that she made a promise to herself: once she had the means, she would help women like her mother gain financial independence. That promise became the foundation of Mamamoni.
Read More
CheckUps – Revolutionising Healthcare Access and Job Creation in Kenya

CheckUps – Revolutionising Healthcare Access and Job Creation in Kenya

Case study Kenya
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 24, 2025  
CheckUps, an urgent care service offering both online and in-person medical dispatch, is transforming Kenya’s healthcare sector. By providing affordable healthcare for underserved Kenyans through an innovative financing model and a network of young nurses, CheckUps is addressing two critical challenges: limited healthcare access and high underemployment among medical professionals. “The need for healthcare is massive. 20% of African households borrow monthly for health bills, while there are 20,000 nurses that are underemployed in Kenya. The healthcare sector should be one of the largest employers in Africa, but jobs are not being created,” explains Dr. Moka Lantum, CEO and CO-Founder of CheckUps. By aligning healthcare payments with the irregular income flows of informal workers and the elderly, who struggle with lump-sum fees, CheckUps reduces annual costs by 60%. This approach improves health equity and expands employment opportunities. Currently, profit margins in the healthcare sector make it difficult for companies to hire staff. For example, on a $50 medication, the margin is only $7, and for generic medicines costing $5, the margin drops to just 7 cents. Such thin margins limit job creation, Dr. Moka Lantum demonstrates.
Read More
Beyond Jobs – Generation Kenya’s Mission to Sustainable Youth Employment

Beyond Jobs – Generation Kenya’s Mission to Sustainable Youth Employment

Case study Kenya
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 21, 2025  
In Kenya, 800,000 to 1 million young people enter the job market annually, yet opportunities remain scarce. Furthermore, as industries evolve, traditional employment declines, making it even harder for youth to secure jobs. Enter Generation Kenya, a non-profit launched in 2015, tackling this crisis by equipping young people, especially those facing the highest systemic barriers, with critical skills and job placements that would otherwise be inaccessible. Their mission creates a win-win situation that bridges the gap between job seekers and businesses in need of skilled talent.
Read More

All Studies »

Case Studies

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni

Case study Nigeria
Sade Aalto-Setala   February 25, 2025  
When Nkem Okocha, founder and CEO of Mamamoni, was just a young girl, she tragically lost her father. Suddenly, she watched her mother struggle to provide for the family, with no formal education and no access to capital. "In Nigeria, there are no safety nets," Nkem explains. Her mother was fortunate to receive a small amount of money, which she used to start a business, ensuring that her children could go to school. But as Nkem grew older, she realised her family's story was not unique. She saw women all around her community facing the same hardship. It was then that she made a promise to herself: once she had the means, she would help women like her mother gain financial independence. That promise became the foundation of Mamamoni.
Read More
The Creative Sector and Youth Employment – Kenya

The Creative Sector and Youth Employment – Kenya

Kenya Learning material
Ilaria Blasi   December 3, 2024  
This paper is about how to leverage green jobs to realise the transition to a green economy. The first step to achieving this is to create a better understanding of green jobs. To this end, following a literature analysis, we provide a mapping tool to help classify green jobs and measure their (potential) impact. The tool is based on four indicators: (i) sector; (ii) green business strategy; (iii) climate action; and (iv) green skills.
Read More

More Learning material:

The Creative Sector and Youth Employment – Kenya

The Creative Sector and Youth Employment – Kenya

Kenya Learning material
Ilaria Blasi   December 3, 2024  
This paper is about how to leverage green jobs to realise the transition to a green economy. The first step to achieving this is to create a better understanding of green jobs. To this end, following a literature analysis, we provide a mapping tool to help classify green jobs and measure their (potential) impact. The tool is based on four indicators: (i) sector; (ii) green business strategy; (iii) climate action; and (iv) green skills.
Read More
Green and Digital Technologies: Are They Really Transforming Youth Employment in Africa’s Agriculture?

Green and Digital Technologies: Are They Really Transforming Youth Employment in Africa’s Agriculture?

Green Jobs Learning material
Ilaria Blasi   November 25, 2024  
This paper is about how to leverage green jobs to realise the transition to a green economy. The first step to achieving this is to create a better understanding of green jobs. To this end, following a literature analysis, we provide a mapping tool to help classify green jobs and measure their (potential) impact. The tool is based on four indicators: (i) sector; (ii) green business strategy; (iii) climate action; and (iv) green skills.
Read More
Shortlist’s Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa Report

Shortlist’s Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa Report

Learning material
Faatimah Clarke   September 25, 2024  
This paper is about how to leverage green jobs to realise the transition to a green economy. The first step to achieving this is to create a better understanding of green jobs. To this end, following a literature analysis, we provide a mapping tool to help classify green jobs and measure their (potential) impact. The tool is based on four indicators: (i) sector; (ii) green business strategy; (iii) climate action; and (iv) green skills.
Read More

All Learning Material »

Learning

The Creative Sector and Youth Employment – Kenya

The Creative Sector and Youth Employment – Kenya

youth
Ilaria Blasi   December 3, 2024  
This paper is about how to leverage green jobs to realise the transition to a green economy. The first step to achieving this is to create a better understanding of green jobs. To this end, following a literature analysis, we provide a mapping tool to help classify green jobs and measure their (potential) impact. The tool is based on four indicators: (i) sector; (ii) green business strategy; (iii) climate action; and (iv) green skills.
Read More

Countries

Stay informed

Want to stay informed?

We will update you on future calls for proposal and our created impact.

Privacy notice

By submitting any of the forms on this website, you are consenting to receive emails from Palladium, on behalf of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by emailing us on info@fundforyouthemployment.nl.

Read more here: Privacy Notice

X