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Our approach
Key objectives
Interventions
Programme resources
Latest updates

Economic Empowerment

Empowering people, shaping futures, transforming Africa’s economic landscape.

Enable a community to innovate, and you empower an economy for a lifetime.

Our approach to Economic Empowerment programming in Africa

We are igniting a powerful wave of change across the continent by equipping communities with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to drive lasting economic growth. Through Economic Empowerment ForAfrika we’re not just breaking the cycle of poverty—we’re building pathways that enable individuals and communities to truly thrive. Our integrated approach tackles financial barriers, cultivates entrepreneurial spirit, and creates job opportunities, ensuring that everyone—especially women and youth—can actively contribute to and benefit from Africa’s economic transformation.

Key objectives of our Economic Empowerment programming

Economic Empowerment ForAfrika is changing lives and building resilient communities across Africa.

Increased household incomes

Strategic market engagement and targeted interventions boost incomes and economic stability.

Thriving local businesses

Support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (mSMEs) creates jobs and drives local economies.

Empowered women and youth

Inclusive opportunities ensure that women and youth play key roles in economic growth.

Sustainable communities

Local capacity-building and financial inclusion initiatives promote long-term resilience.

Key interventions of our Economic Empowerment programming

Financial inclusion

Implementing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to enhance financial literacy, savings mobilisation, and access to financial services.

Business development support

Providing market assessments, business planning, entrepreneurial training, and access to financing for mSMEs.

Youth employment

Offering vocational training, job placement programmes, and digital job opportunities tailored to current market demands.

Sustainability and localisation

Building local capacity and supporting community-led economic development to ensure resources stay within the community.

Economic Empowerment programme resources

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Digitalisation of the rural economy through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)
ForAfrika presents a vision to transform the traditional systems through digital innovation. Ou...
Proven Process for Self-Sufficient Communities
Our Proven Process illustrates our approach to working with communities to become self-sufficie...

Impact

Thanks to your support, last year we upskilled and empowered 53,071 people.

Our core programmatic pillars

Emergency Response

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Food Security and Livelihoods

Health and Nutrition

Education

Economic Empowerment

Sustainable Development Goals

Our Economic Empowerment interventions directly contribute to SDGs: 4, 5 and 8.

Click on a SDG for more information:

Where we work

We implement Economic Empowerment programming in Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan and Uganda.

Click on a country for more information:

Our trusted Economic Empowerment partners

• World Food Programme
• Save The Children
• Unicef
• Sasol
• Ministries of Education/National Council for Children at National and Local levels in each country of operation

The latest updates on Economic Empowerment

Ruben Maleyolo during an interview with ForAfrika in Sibut. ForAfrika:Rebecca Navega

Read more +21 July 2026 By ForAfrika in Central African Republic, Economic Empowerment, Food Security and Livelihoods

Ruben Maleyolo’s vision for Central African Republic

Ruben Maleyolo is the President of the Union of Sibut Village Loans and Savings Associations, part of the ForAfrika interventions in Sibut, Central African Republic. He supported the creation and strengthening of 40 associations, helping close to 1,000 head of households find their path to self-sufficiency.

Gizachewu Gilana, centre, with his team at the Gocha Kebele tree nursery

Read more +20 July 2026 By ForAfrika in Economic Empowerment, Ethiopia, Food Security and Livelihoods

Youth revive degraded watersheds bringing Konso back to life

“This place was bare,” Kuchabo Kubale, woreda (district) Sorobo Kebele head administrator states as he points to the 50-hectare watershed that has been rehabilitated by the Livelihood Improvement Project in collaboration with the Sorobo Youth Group.

Sasol-ForAfrika-and-representatives-of-district-Government-in-Inhambane-province.-Nordino-Vicente-ForAfrika

Read more +14 July 2026 By ForAfrika in Economic Empowerment, Food Security and Livelihoods, Mozambique, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

ForAfrika and Sasol partner to strengthen food security, water access and livelihoods in Vilankulo, Mozambique

ForAfrika has signed a new partnership agreement with Sasol to improve food security, strengthen agricultural livelihoods and create new economic opportunities for communities in Vilankulo District, Inhambane Province. The partnership builds on a history of collaboration between ForAfrika and Sasol across Inhambane Province.