30 private higher education institutions, vocational centres and key educational players in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal have received financial and technical support from the Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) Education and Employment Programme (IP2E) since its inception in 2021.

The initiative implemented through partnerships with the Mastercard Foundation, the European Union, and the Government of Monaco, aims to improve access to quality education and strengthen the training-employment match in Africa, in order to ensure better employment opportunities.

Speaking at an event to assess the significant achievements and challenges of the programme in Accra, the Programme Director for IP2E, Koumba Anouma, said: “Together, we have faced challenges that taught us invaluable lessons, forged strong partnerships and contributed to a promising future for young people across the region.”

She highlighted the programme’s progress in enhancing the quality of education and supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access learning and career opportunities.

She explained that strengthening pathways to employment was essential as Africa prepares to welcome 30 million new job market entrants annually by 2030.

The Head of Investment for I&P Education to Employment, Regis Ouattara, discussed the programme's investment strategy, emphasising the need to support the education sector, which had historically been underfunded.

He said the education sector plays a crucial role in societal development. However, it faces severe funding shortages, particularly in West Africa.

Bridging the gap

Presenting a report which highlights the programme’s successes and measurable outcomes, the ESG/Impact Officer of IP2E, Manuela Boma-Atta, said: “We have supported more than 200,000 students, with a focus on gender inclusion—58 per cent of our beneficiaries are women. This shows our commitment to reducing barriers to education, especially for marginalised populations.”

She explained that the programme’s support extends to diverse educational businesses, from vocational training and higher education to edtech and publishing with focus areas including digital transformation, measuring graduate employability, fostering inclusion and creating safe learning environments.

For his part, the Programme Partner for Education and Skills at the Mastercard Foundation, Peter Tetteh Narh, expressed the foundation’s commitment to advancing youth employment through IP2E.

He noted that IP2E aligned with the Foundation’s ambitious “Young Africa Works” strategy, which aims to provide dignified work to 30 million African youth by 2030.