Policy Responses to COVID-19 for the Youth Population in Africa

Access to financial services is a key link between economic opportunities and outcomes for young people, enabling them to manage emergencies, invest in their education, or start a business.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly three-quarters of youths remain outside the formal financial system, and they prefer to save and borrow informally.  Youth should be at the center of regulations and policies as they represent a significant proportion of the population.

This report outlines policy responses during COVID-19 that can be applied as a recovery mechanism, and to prevent or mitigate the impacts of future crises on youth financial inclusion.