Gender Integration in Youth Focused Programmes

The 2019 Gender Learning Survey of the Next Generation Cocoa Youth programme (MASO) highlights how women are now actively pursuing career goals in cocoa, which has improved incomes and savings, and contributed to overall household nutrition and well-being.

The unemployment rate among young women in beneficiary communities reduced from 28% to 13% while average annual income increased by 250 dollars in 2019. The young women also benefited from knowledge and skills in good agricultural practices, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and sexual reproductive health. 

The survey also emphasizes how the programme has helped transform the attitude of young male beneficiaries in partaking in domestic chores typically reserved for females — such as cooking, fetching water for household use, washing and childcare.

Gender Integration in Youth Focused Programmes: Lessons From The Next Generation Cocoa Youth Programme