Partners: Absa Bank Ghana; Mastercard Foundation
Period: 2020 –2025
Country of Operation: Ghana
Category: Employment, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Agriculture, Evidence Generation (MERL), Youth Welfare
Project Snapshot
Under the Young Africa Works Strategy, the Mastercard Foundation partnered with Absa Bank Ghana to implement the Absa Young Africa Works Program, a five-year initiative designed to expand access to affordable finance and create employment pathways for young people—particularly young women—in Ghana.
The program focused on reducing financial barriers for MSMEs, especially women-led, youth-led, and agriculture-focused enterprises. It introduced innovative financial instruments such as a pari-passu guarantee facility, interest rate subsidies, and uncollateralized lending options. Financing was delivered through Absa’s direct branch network and indirectly through microfinance institutions (MFIs), rural banks, savings and loans companies, and agribusiness aggregators.
The program aimed to support 5,000 MSMEs with financial services, provide Business Development Services to 5,000 MSMEs, and facilitate 50,000 pathways to work.
Project Objectives
Main Goal:
Assess the relevance, effectiveness, reach, sustainability, and systemic impact of the Absa Young Africa Works Program.
Specific Objectives:
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Examine how the program’s design and financial instruments improved access to affordable finance for youth and women-led enterprises.
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Assess enterprise growth, employment creation, and market access outcomes.
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Evaluate portfolio performance and lending behavior shifts within Absa and its partner institutions.
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Analyze contributions to inclusive finance, enterprise resilience, and long-term sustainability.
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Generate forward-looking recommendations to strengthen impact and scale.
PDA’s Task
PDA led the comprehensive strategic review of the Absa Young Africa Works Program in Ghana.
Our role included:
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Designing and implementing a participatory mixed-methods evaluation.
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Conducting quantitative surveys with youth participants and MSMEs.
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Performing portfolio and financial performance analysis using Absa’s administrative data.
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Conducting qualitative interviews with enterprises, youth participants, households, community members, and ecosystem actors.
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Applying a strong Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) lens, with specific attention to youth, women-led enterprises, agribusinesses, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
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Developing synthesis reports and evidence-based impact stories.
How We Are Going About It
PDA applied a participatory mixed-methods approach across five review domains: Program Design & Implementation, Reach, Outcomes & Impact, Sustainability, and Forward-Looking Learning.
We conducted nationwide quantitative surveys with 704 respondents (453 youth participants and 251 MSME owners) to assess employment outcomes, enterprise growth, access to finance, and dignified and fulfilling work indicators. This was complemented by 57 qualitative interviews with enterprises, youth participants, households, community members, and key stakeholders including Absa, partner financial institutions, agribusinesses, and BDS providers.
In addition, PDA analyzed Absa’s portfolio and financial performance data to examine lending trends, revenue growth, job creation, and shifts in inclusive finance practices. By triangulating survey findings, qualitative insights, and financial records, we developed a comprehensive understanding of the program’s impact on enterprise performance, youth employment pathways, and systemic change within Ghana’s financial ecosystem.