Impact Stories
Youth Narratives of Change
in Subsaharan Africa and the Middle East.
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.
Impact stories
Agrowise and the Power of Local Innovation in Sudan: When Resilience meets Reinvention
Faatimah Clarke
September 8, 2025
In a land where the soil is rich, but opportunity often feels scarce, Shihab Eldin Faisal dared to plant a different kind of seed - one rooted in resilience, innovation, and hope. His journey led to the founding of Agrowise, a pioneering agricultural enterprise born out of the Rhino Acceleration Programme, a project supported by 249Startups with co-funding by the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment.
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From Roots to Resilience: Young Farmers Cultivating the Future of Agriculture in South-West Ethiopia
Sade Aalto-Setala
July 21, 2025
Meet Amina, Aster, Addisu, and Tagay - four young farmers from in and around Butajira, Ethiopia. United not only through their profession, but through their resilience and determination to build a brighter future in farming.
That future found fertile ground through a training programme led by Chakka Origins, a social enterprise rooted in organic agroforestry and working hand-in-hand with farming communities. With support from CFYE, the programme empowered youth - especially women and marginalised farmers - with practical skills, tools, and resources. Their approach is to use sustainable agriculture as a path to income, inclusion, and environmental protection.
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From Fashion Statement to the Green Movement: How Ameni Mansouri is Driving Circular Change with Dabchy
Faatimah Clarke
June 23, 2025
For Ameni Mansouri, entrepreneurship is not just about business – it is a vehicle for purpose. A biomedical engineer by training and a fashion enthusiast at heart, Amani took a bold leap from the lab into the startup world with one clear goal: to build a smarter, more sustainable future. Today, she’s the co-founder and CEO of Dabchy, a circular lifestyle platform that empowers thousands across Tunisia and Egypt to buy, sell, and connect sustainably.
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Case studies
INCLUSION APPROACHES TO CREATING, MATCHING, AND IMPROVING JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: A CASE STUDY OF LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
Faatimah Clarke
May 26, 2025
People with disabilities (PwDs) face discrimination at multiple levels—in society, their workplace, and sometimes within their household. Negative attitudes are prevalent among family members and PwDs themselves, mostly due to a lack of awareness or education about disability, or implicit bias and stereotypes about their actual or potential skills.
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INCLUSION APPROACHES TO CREATING, MATCHING, AND IMPROVING JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: A CASE STUDY OF ECO BRIXS
Ilaria Blasi
May 1, 2025
People with disabilities (PwDs) face discrimination at multiple levels—in society, their workplace, and sometimes within their household. Negative attitudes are prevalent among family members and PwDs themselves, mostly due to a lack of awareness or education about disability, or implicit bias and stereotypes about their actual or potential skills.
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When Young Girls Dream Big: Nkem Okocha Supporting Communities Through Mamamoni
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.
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Learning materials
The Creative Sector and Youth Employment – Kenya
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.
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Green and Digital Technologies: Are They Really Transforming Youth Employment in Africa’s Agriculture?
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.
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Shortlist’s Forecasting Green Jobs in Africa Report
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.
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