The first cohort of Young Impact Associates (YIAs), consisting of 11 young professionals, has completed a year-long programme by Vanguard Economics, which aims to empower young Africans with the skills necessary for a successful career in the field of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL).
The associates received programme completion certificates at a celebratory event organised by Vanguard Economics in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation on September 29 at the Kigali Marriott Hotel.
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Vanguard Economics implements the YIA training programme as an Impact Partner Organisation (IPO) of the Mastercard Foundation in Rwanda. It aims to train individuals who will positively impact the MEL discussion and promote a practice that prioritises the communities it wants to serve through its work.
Founded in 2015, Vanguard Economics is a Rwandan consultancy firm specialising in private sector development and economic analysis, with areas of work including data analysis, programme and strategy design, and impact assessment.
The organisation seeks to, "identify, design, and implement homegrown solutions to challenges populations face on their path to sustainable and inclusive prosperity”.
"This event is meant to build the profile of the Young Impact Associates programme within the host countries, as well as officially launch the YIA Programme Alumni Network," noted Mads Knudsen, co-founder of Vanguard Economics.
"During the year-long programme, we were exposed to the critical discipline of impact evaluation, as well as everything from project management to data collection and analysis," said Yvonne Mutesi, one of the graduates, who currently works as a data analyst at Vanguard Economics.
She continued, "I also enhanced my research and consulting skills in economic analysis for development, by working to solve real-life problems."
In her address, Reeta Roy, CEO and president of the Mastercard Foundation, lauded the inaugural cohort&039;s drive, saying that having more young people empowered with the right tools to compete on the global market is a promise to the betterment of the continent's and world’s future.
Dr Jean Providence Nzabonimpa, head of the regional evaluation unit, World Food Program (WFP), South Africa, agreed, saying, "It's empowering and promising to see young people willing to go the extra mile to acquire the right knowledge, to acquire additional skills, so as to improve themselves but also the entire system they are meant to take part in."