New UM6P, Mastercard Program Backs African Women’s Education – Morocco World News

Report on the UM6P and Mastercard Foundation Partnership: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Africa

Introduction: A Strategic Alliance for Sustainable Development

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the Mastercard Foundation have initiated a decade-long partnership to advance education and leadership for young women in Africa. This scholarship program directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on gender equality, quality education, and reduced inequalities. The program will sponsor 575 young female scholars, providing a comprehensive academic experience designed to cultivate a new generation of female leaders and innovators, thereby contributing to the continent’s sustainable growth.

Alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education

The initiative is fundamentally aligned with SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The program guarantees access to higher education for young women, removing financial barriers and providing a robust support system.

• Inclusive Access: The program offers full scholarships, ensuring that economic status is not a barrier to quality tertiary education.
• Holistic Development: The curriculum extends beyond traditional academics to include mentorship, psychosocial support, and leadership training, enhancing the quality and relevance of the education provided.
• Lifelong Learning: By focusing on skills such as technology, coding, and entrepreneurship, the program equips scholars for future professional and personal growth.

Contribution to SDG 5: Gender Equality

A core objective of the partnership is to address SDG 5 by empowering women and closing the gender divide in higher education and leadership positions across Africa. The program is designed to dismantle barriers that hinder the advancement of young women.

• Empowering Female Leaders: The program is exclusively for young women, directly investing in their potential to become change-makers and leaders in their communities and nations.
• Equal Opportunity: By providing access to a leading university’s dynamic ecosystem, including its experimental farm and energy park, the initiative ensures women have equal opportunities to engage in applied research and innovation.
• Community Engagement: Scholars are encouraged to undertake civic activities, extending the program’s impact beyond the university and promoting female leadership in community development.

Fostering SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The scholarship program is a key component of the Mastercard Foundation’s “Young Africa Works” strategy, which directly supports SDG 8. The initiative aims to equip young Africans, particularly women, with the necessary skills to secure dignified and meaningful employment by 2030.

• Skill Development: The curriculum’s focus on entrepreneurship and technology provides scholars with high-demand skills for the modern economy.
• Economic Empowerment: The program addresses economic barriers to education, enabling beneficiaries to achieve financial independence and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
• Professional Networking: A dedicated program phase focuses on developing networking skills, connecting graduates with alumni, industry leaders, and professional opportunities.

Addressing SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

In line with SDG 10, the program actively works to reduce inequalities by targeting women from marginalized and vulnerable populations who face additional barriers to accessing higher education.

• Targeted Inclusion: The program specifically recruits women from diverse and challenging backgrounds, including:
  • Individuals from rural areas
  • Refugees and displaced persons
  • Young mothers
  • Students with disabilities
• Equitable Support: A personalized integration phase ensures that all scholars, regardless of their background, can adapt smoothly to university life and receive the support they need to succeed.

Program Structure and Implementation

The program is structured in three distinct phases to ensure a comprehensive and supportive journey for each scholar, from matriculation to post-graduation.

1. Personalized Integration: An initial phase designed to help students transition smoothly into the university environment, providing foundational support.
2. Academic and Leadership Development: The core academic experience, enriched with mentorship programs focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, technology, and coding.
3. Professional Networking and Transition: A final phase dedicated to building professional networks, connecting scholars with alumni and industry leaders to facilitate their transition into meaningful careers.

Conclusion: A Partnership for Africa’s Future

The collaboration between UM6P and the Mastercard Foundation exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This strategic alliance serves as a powerful catalyst for sustainable development in Africa by investing in the education and leadership of young women. By systematically addressing SDGs 4, 5, 8, and 10, the program is poised not only to transform the lives of 575 individuals but also to foster broader social progress and sustainable growth across the continent.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on providing education to empower young women from diverse backgrounds across Africa touches upon goals related to education, gender equality, economic growth, reducing inequality, and partnerships.

   • SDG 4: Quality Education: The core of the article is the scholarship program by UM6P and the Mastercard Foundation, which aims to provide access to quality higher education for young African women. The text emphasizes a “full academic experience that blends research, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.”
   • SDG 5: Gender Equality: The program is explicitly designed to “empower young women in Africa” and address the “gender divide in institutions of higher learning and leadership positions.” It focuses on building a “generation of female change-makers.”
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The initiative is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s “Young Africa Works” strategy, which aims to help “young Africans to get dignified and meaningful work by 2030.” The program equips scholars with skills in “entrepreneurship, technology, and coding” to prepare them for the job market.
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program has a “strong focus on inclusion,” specifically targeting women who face additional barriers to education, such as “those living in rural areas, refugees, young mothers, and disabled students.” This directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities within and among countries.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The entire initiative is a “partnership between the university and the Mastercard Foundation.” This collaboration between an academic institution and a private foundation to achieve sustainable development objectives is a clear example of SDG 17 in action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the program’s objectives and target groups described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university. The scholarship program directly facilitates access to tertiary education at UM6P for 575 young women.
   • Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities. The program’s focus on young women and vulnerable groups like “refugees… and disabled students” directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making. The program’s goal to develop leadership skills and create “female change-makers” contributes to this target by preparing women for leadership roles.
   • Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women. The curriculum includes development programs in “technology, and coding,” which directly supports this target.
   • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. By providing education and skills for employment, the program helps reduce the number of young women who are not in education or training, with the long-term goal of securing “dignified and meaningful work.”
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex, disability… or other status. The program actively promotes the inclusion of marginalized women, including those with disabilities, refugees, and young mothers.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The collaboration between UM6P (a university) and the Mastercard Foundation (a private foundation) is a prime example of a public-private/civil society partnership for sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the program’s progress and impact:

   • Number of scholarships awarded: The article explicitly states the program will sponsor “575 young female scholars” over a decade, with an “initial group, comprising 40 scholars.” This is a direct indicator for measuring access to higher education (Target 4.3).
   • Participation rate of vulnerable groups: An implied indicator is the number or proportion of scholars from targeted vulnerable groups, such as those from “rural areas, refugees, young mothers, and disabled students.” Tracking this data would measure progress towards Target 4.5 and Target 10.2.
   • Geographic diversity of scholars: The article mentions the initial group is “drawn from 9 countries, including Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Madagascar, and Mali.” The number of countries represented serves as an indicator of the program’s reach and its contribution to reducing inequalities across the continent.
   • Gender parity in the student body: The article notes that UM6P’s student body already consists of “55% females.” This statistic is a direct indicator of gender parity in education (relevant to Target 4.5 and SDG 5).
   • Employment rate of graduates: While not explicitly stated as a metric, the program’s connection to the “Young Africa Works” strategy, which aims for “dignified and meaningful work,” implies that the employment status of graduates in relevant fields would be a key long-term indicator of success (relevant to Target 8.6).
   • Number of partnerships established: The existence of the partnership between UM6P and the Mastercard Foundation is itself an indicator for SDG 17. The scale and financial commitment of this partnership could also be measured.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
   SDG 4: Quality Education	4.3: Ensure equal access to tertiary education. 4.5: Eliminate gender disparities and ensure access for the vulnerable.	Total number of scholarships provided (575). Number of scholars from vulnerable groups (refugees, disabled students). Percentage of female students at the university (55%).
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	5.5: Ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership. 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology to empower women.	Number of women enrolled in leadership development programs. Inclusion of technology and coding in the curriculum for female scholars. Long-term: Number of graduates in leadership positions.
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.6: Reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.	Number of young women in higher education and training. Implied: Employment rate of program graduates in “dignified and meaningful work.”
   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.2: Empower and promote the social and economic inclusion of all.	Number of scholarships awarded to women from marginalized groups (rural areas, refugees, young mothers, disabled). Geographic diversity of scholars (initial group from 9 countries).
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17: Encourage and promote effective public-private and civil society partnerships.	Existence of the partnership between UM6P and the Mastercard Foundation. Mobilization of resources for 575 full scholarships over a decade.

Source: moroccoworldnews.com