Innovative finance for employment: The potential for women and urban youth

The need for female economic empowerment in Mozambique is clear; just 24% of women have access to wage employment, versus 50% of men. 

The situation is worse still in urban settings where women aged between 19 and 24 have the highest unemployment rates in the country.

Despite impressive economic growth in recent years, 50% of Mozambicans are still living in poverty and social and economic inequalities are continuing to grow. The challenges faced by disadvantaged urban youth and women are severe; without deliberate intervention to address the constraints facing them, this trend is set to worsen.

In light of this challenge, MUVA commissioned this scoping study to assess the potential of innovative financing models to support the economic empowerment of disadvantaged urban youth and women.