Global Youth Economic Opportunities Conference
General Resources
A collection of YFS resources that includes conference reports, guidelines, and other cross-cutting documents.
Global Youth Economic Opportunities Conference Publications
A consolidation and synthesis of the key findings and lessons learned, common challenges, and recommended next steps that participants highlighted (must log in to be able to download).
Emerging Guidelines in Youth-Inclusive Financial Services, December 2009
As a result of collaborative input, case studies, and discussions with practitioners from financial services providers and youth-serving organizations, Making Cents International has identified six emerging guidelines.
Emerging guidelines for linking youth to financial services
This paper discusses: 1) the results of a global survey conducted in 2009 by Making Cents International; and 2) findings of leading NGOs and financial institutions which are pioneering youth-inclusive and youth-specific financial products.
Savings and Chance: Inclusive Finance and the Haitian Lottery
The Center for Emerging Market Enterprises (CEME) at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, explores several theories that connect the presence of savings groups to gambling practices in Haiti.
Gateway Financial Innovations for Savings: Focus Note #1
Gateway Financial Innovations for Savings (GAFIS) works with five banks in five low and middle income countries to demonstrate viable solutions to the challenge of expanding access to banking services for the world's poor.
Accelerating Financial Capability among Youth: Nudging New Thinking
The New America Foundation's Global Assets Project explores the standard financial capability equation and suggests mechanisms, or nudges, to overcome psychological barriers to accelerate financial capability among low-income youth.
"Use of Time and Mobility" Focus Group Tool
Using interactive methods such as drawing and storytelling, this youth-friendly focus group tool reveals where young people spend their time, how much time they spend in various places, and why they like certain places.
Is There a Business Case for Small Savers?
This study examines quantitatively whether or not small savers--defined here as the half of all savings clients of a microfinance institution (MFI) with the smallest deposit account balances--contribute to or undermine the sustainability of the MFI.
Youth Savings in Developing Countries: Trends in Practice, Gaps in Knowledge
In this paper, The YouthSave Consortium explores the potential of youth savings accounts as an intervention at the nexus of youth development and financial inclusion.
Youth Savings Accounts: A Financial Service Perspective
This literature and program review looks at youth savings services from a financial service rather than a youth service perspective.
Youth and Access to Microfinance in Indonesia: Outreach and Options
Access to finance is a critical factor in developing self-employment opportunities for youth in Indonesia. This study looks at both the supply and demand sides of financial services to youth.
Child Savings Accounts: A Primer
Child Savings Accounts (CSAs) are a promising tool that promote savings starting at a young age. This primer describes the concept of CSAs, various purposes for and features of the accounts, impacts CSAs can have on a child’s development, and obstacles that impede the widespread provision of the accounts.
Child Savings Accounts: Global Trends in Design and Practice
This paper provides an overview of Child Savings Accounts (CSAs) around the world; a summary of reasons why governments, financial institutions, and non-profits are offering CSAs and features of the accounts they offer; and a few of the obstacles these institutions face to successfully offering CSAs.
Entry Finance: Building the Livelihood Assets and Capabilities of Youth
This brief produced by Equip3 funded by USAID identifies the goal of entry finance as helping to build a more intentional bridge between youth 13-24 and traditional microfinance providers by looking at readiness and access as well as assets and capabilities.
Getting to “What We Don’t Know We Don’t Know” (Vol. 1)
Using Youth-Inclusive Market Research Tools and Approaches to Develop Effective, Demand-Driven Youth Livelihood Programs Volume One: Coordinator’s Handbook
Getting to “What We Don’t Know We Don’t Know” (Vol. 2)
Using Youth-Inclusive Market Research Tools and Approaches to Develop Effective, Demand-Driven Youth Livelihood Programs Volume Two: Facilitator’s Handbook
WSBI Member Banks' Experiences in the Field of Financial Education: Examples and Policy Views
World Savings Banks Institute (WSBI) shares examples and policy views on financial education and youth inclusion.
Listening to Youth: Market Research to Design Financial and Non-financial Services for Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa
YouthStart is a UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) inclusive finance programme that aims to reach 200,000 youth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by 2014 with demand-driven financial and non-financial services, particularly savings and financial education initiatives.
Down to Business: Ryada Microfinance's Experience of Introducing Financial Services for Youth
This article outlines Ryada Microfinance's experiences offering financial services to youth in Palestine by sharing challenges and lessons learned through their implementation of the emerging guidelines for developing and delivering youth financial products.
Participatory Rapid Appraisal for Microfinance – A Toolkit
This “how to” manual is an integral part of the MicroSave training course: “Market Research for Microfinance,” which provides the background needed in order to correctly utilize these tools.
Serving Youth With Microfinance: Perspectives of Microfinance Institutions and Youth Serving Organizations
The objective of the research initiative is to investigate the applicability of microfinance to youth in conflict-affected areas. The knowledge generated is intended to provide guidance to development professionals--including donors, microfinance and youth practitioners--for making sound decisions as it related to youth and microfinance programming in conflict-affected areas.
Financial Education for Adolescent Girls
This paper conducts a landscape assessment of organizations delivering or facilitating financial education programs, identifies the purpose of the financial education, reviews the associated curricula (when available), understands target groups, and analyzes content and delivery. These findings and recommendations are then used to inform future approaches on how to extend financial education to adolescent girls.
Economic Strengthening for Vulnerable Children: Principles of Program Design and Technical Recommendations for Effective Field Interventions
This FIELD Brief is the third in a series produced by the Financial Integration, Economic Leveraging and Broad-Based Dissemination (FIELD) Support Program. Managed by AED, FIELD represents a consoritium of leading microenterprise development and microfinance organizations committed to advancing practice through innovation, learning and exploration. FIELD Briefs support this goal by sharing our experience and inciting dialogue on key issues.
Assessing the Outcomes of Financial Education
This joint report by Microfinance Opportunities and Freedom from Hunger outlines the needs and opportunities among microfinance clients and other poor people and highlights financial education's role in assisting with developing skills to make informed financial decisions. Market research is utilized to design financial education modules that can be adapted for use in different areas.
UNCDF Market Research Evaluation Tool
This tool provides a quick way to score and evaluate research methodologies.
Financial Product Adaptation Tool
Financial Product Adaptation Tool: Designing Integrated Services for Youth; Applying Market Research Findings to Product Adaptations
Financial Product Development Tool
Designing Integrated Services for Youth: Applying Market Research Findings to Product Development. Developed by Plan Indonesia
MEDA Youth and Financial Services
This four page document outlines why MEDA is using microfinance to reach youth, how this is accomplished, the framework for their approach and their impact to date.
Growing Potential: Microfinance-Plus Approaches for Cultivating the New Generation of Young Clients
Released at the 2011 Global Microcredit Summit Campaign, "Growing Potential" presents an overview of the business and social cases for youth-friendly products and services and presents practical guidelines to help institutions begin thinking about developing or adapting financial services for youth.
Street Business Mini Toolkit: The Importance of Budgeting
Using tools and stories, this mini-toolkit serves as a useful exercise for young people who are thinking about starting their own businesses.
