Youth across Africa face persistent challenges in entering the agricultural sector due to structural barriers such as limited access to finance, land, training, and inputs, as well as outdated perceptions of agriculture as an unattractive livelihood option. In response, AGRA engaged MSC to develop the Youth in Agriculture Ecosystem Development Framework (Y-EDF) across Malawi, Rwanda, and Ghana. The goal was to transform agriculture into a viable and appealing employment pathway for young people through ecosystem-wide support and inclusive market access.
MSC provided end-to-end support for the design and implementation of the Y-EDF. Drawing on its deep expertise in youth development and agriculture, MSC mapped key ecosystem actors to assess engagement gaps and identified high-potential value chains for job creation. The team facilitated extensive consultations with over 200 youth and more than 60 stakeholders through FGDs and KIIs to ensure the framework was youth-informed and contextually grounded. MSC also developed three guiding reports—Country Opportunity, Youth Opportunity, and Ecosystem Mapping—and designed a five-year investment plan (2025–2029) to align resources, track progress, and mobilize funding for youth-led agricultural initiatives. To drive implementation, MSC facilitated country-level validation workshops, prepared policy briefs, and supported AGRA in stakeholder alignment and advocacy. The Y-EDF provides a roadmap for inclusive, youth-centric ecosystem building, offering AGRA and its partners an adaptable model for replicating this approach across other African nations.
The framework resulted in country-specific opportunity roadmaps and an actionable investment strategy to support youth employment in agriculture. It also contributed to stronger stakeholder coordination and cross-sector collaboration. AGRA is now integrating the framework into its wider programming, with the Y-EDF serving as a strategic tool to position agriculture as a viable livelihood for young people.
AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) commissioned the project.
In response to the persistent barriers faced by young entrepreneurs in Senegal, including limited access to technical skills, infrastructure, mentorship, and financing. MSC partnered with Expresso Innovation Hub as part of the Youth Livelihoods in Digital Financial Services (YLDFS) project to strengthen its incubation approach for youth-led startups. The initiative was designed to build a supportive and scalable ecosystem to nurture entrepreneurship among Senegal’s youth population and drive small business success in a challenging environment.
MSC provided strategic and operational support to the incubator, with a focus on strengthening cohort selection methodologies, embedding financial education, and delivering customized capacity-building support for both incubator staff and startup teams. The engagement involved strategy design, cross-program learning, and development of a structured mentorship framework. We also supported the integration of coaching, training bootcamps, and one-on-one mentorship to guide early-stage entrepreneurs from ideation to execution.
Over the eight-week incubation cycle, startups participated in 12 intensive training sessions and 3 networking meetups, to gain practical exposure to entrepreneurship. One-on-one coaching was provided to refine business models and support early-stage growth. As a result, 129 youth engaged in structured meetups, 23 jobs were created in the month following the incubation, and select participants secured contracting opportunities or advanced product development efforts. The program also led to improved understanding of formalization, financial management, and iterative prototyping techniques among youth entrepreneurs. For Expresso, the project strengthened its internal incubation methodology, promoted ecosystem collaboration, and laid the foundation for competency-based, scalable incubation programs. The initiative offered a robust model to prepare startups for market entry and financing and is expected to serve as a replicable framework for other youth-focused incubators in the region.
The Mastercard Foundation commissioned the project.
Under the Youth Livelihoods in Digital Financial Services (YLDFS) initiative, the Mastercard Foundation (MCF) commissioned MSC to explore innovative models for improving financial resilience among youth in the gig economy. MSC partnered with Lynk, a digital platform that connects informal skilled workers to customers, to cocreate sustainable microinsurance product concepts tailored to the needs of young gig workers.
MSC conducted detailed market research to understand the specific needs and risks faced by gig workers on the Lynk platform. The engagement involved co-designing microinsurance concepts—including traditional push models, pull models, and pay-as-you-go solutions—aligned with workers’ irregular incomes and varying risk profiles. We also facilitated partnerships with local insurers to assess operational feasibility and helped structure a pilot-ready product design. Through this collaboration, we supported Lynk in identifying its short-term insurance requirements and co-developing an umbrella Personal Accident (PA) insurance coverage for its active professionals. An agreement was structured to allow for mass coverage, capable of protecting 400+ workers engaged by Lynk in a single day. MSC also introduced experiential learning approaches using digital tools to promote continuous financial literacy among youth workers.
The insurance product developed under this initiative is currently undergoing pilot implementation in partnership with Britam Kenya, with early results expected to inform future insurance models for the informal sector. This work lays the groundwork for scalable, technology- driven insurance solutions that can enhance income security and improve the livelihoods of gig workers across Africa.
Mastercard Foundation commissioned the project.
KSP TLM, a cooperative operating in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, wanted to modernize its operations by replacing its legacy system with a robust Core Banking Solution (CBS). This transition was part of the cooperative’s broader digital transformation strategy to improve operational efficiency, meet regulatory requirements, and enhance client service delivery. Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned MSC to lead the CBS implementation process.
MSC was engaged as the lead consulting partner to provide comprehensive, end-to-end support for the CBS implementation. The assignment began with a detailed requirements analysis to identify feature enhancements, particularly in savings modules and functional gaps.
MSC coordinated closely with the CBS vendor to align system modifications with TLM’s operational needs and managed the full data migration process, including extraction from legacy systems, data cleansing, and structured integration into the new CBS. The team also led the development of a Training of Trainers (TOT) strategy to build internal capacity for long-term sustainability. A phased rollout approach, combined with a parallel run plan, was adopted to ensure minimal disruption during go-live. Post-go-live support was embedded into the project to address system stabilization and user adoption issues.
The ongoing project is set to deliver a fully customized CBS tailored to TLM’s needs. It is also expected to improve internal system proficiency, ensure operational continuity, and significantly enhance the client experience through more efficient and reliable service delivery.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned the project.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) sought to expand its impact in Indonesia by identifying microfinance institutions (MFIs) aligned with its investment principles. Koperasi Mitra Dhuafa (KOMIDA), a cooperative utilizing a modified Grameen group-lending model, was shortlisted as a potential debt investment partner. To assess KOMIDA’s institutional capacity and alignment, OIA engaged MSC to conduct a detailed due diligence.
MSC deployed a multidisciplinary team to conduct a comprehensive due diligence of KOMIDA. The process involved both a desk-based review and a field-level institutional assessment. At KOMIDA’s head office in Jakarta, MSC reviewed core documents on credit, operations, finance, HR, MIS, and internal audit to evaluate the business model and portfolio profile.
The team also held in-depth interviews with board members, senior leadership, and functional heads to understand governance practices, strategic direction, and institutional maturity. Field visits were conducted in four branches across West Java and Jogjakarta, where MSC used focus group discussions (FGDs), individual interviews, and a sample-based portfolio audit to validate credit processes.
MSC’s due diligence provided OIA with a comprehensive understanding of KOMIDA’s institutional strengths and operational gaps. Based on the findings, OIA proceeded with a debt investment that enabled KOMIDA to expand its outreach from 150,000 to over 500,000 clients within three years. The partnership helped position KOMIDA as one of the leading MFIs in Indonesia’s microfinance sector.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned the project.
Bina Artha Ventura (BAV), a rapidly growing microfinance institution in Indonesia, operates using a modified Grameen group-lending model. As part of its growth strategy, BAV was seeking equity investment to expand outreach and institutional capacity. Opportunity International Australia (OIA) intended to assess BAV’s suitability for investment in line with its impact and governance criteria. To support this, OIA engaged MSC to conduct an operational due diligence of BAV.
MSC carried out a comprehensive due diligence of BAV using a three-fold methodology: desk review, head office assessment, and field-level verification. The review included an analysis of policy manuals, financial records, internal audit reports, MIS outputs, and governance documents to assess operational soundness and financial viability. MSC conducted in-depth interviews with senior leadership, board members, and functional teams to understand organizational alignment with OIA’s investment mandate. Field visits to four branches—Jombang, Nganjuk, Kediri, and Mojokerto—were undertaken to observe on-ground practices. These visits included focus group discussions (FGDs) and individual interviews with staff and clients, as well as a sample-based portfolio audit to validate credit practices and customer engagement.
MSC’s findings informed OIA’s investment decision and shaped technical assistance for BAV’s post-investment support. The investment catalyzed and helped BAV attract additional funding from both social and commercial investors. The due diligence laid the groundwork for a long-term partnership and positioned BAV as one of Indonesia’s fastest-growing microfinance institutions.
Opportunity International Australia (OIA) commissioned the project.
