FAQs Dot

The Going Beyond – Partnering for a Youth-Led Future project is a partnership
between DOT and the Mastercard Foundation that aims to scale DOT’s
evidence-based, peer-to-peer model and will be executed in four African countries –
Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania. Over five years, and with the support of
DOT regional hubs in Africa, the Going Beyond project will progressively transfer the
responsibility for delivering DOT’s programs and equip youth as leaders of the future.

 The key objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of 40
Youth-Led Organizations (YLOs) and Youth-Serving Organizations (YSOs) to
deliver innovative digital livelihood programming in Tanzania, Malawi,
Zambia, and Cote d’Ivoire.
● These organizations will then recruit, provide training to, and deploy 4,000
young leaders.
● The Young Leaders will empower 300,000 Micro, Small, and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) with entrepreneurship, 21st-century soft skills, basic
business skills, responsible attitudes, and self-confidence to improve their
business outcomes. 70% of all participants will be young women.

The project aims to progressively transfer the delivery and ownership of DOT’s
evidence-based, youth-led programming, and equip youth as leaders of the future,
drive economic growth, and contribute to sustainable development in their communities. Key outcomes include increased business revenues, improved
livelihoods, and enhanced opportunities for youth employment.

Through the Young Africa Works strategy, the Mastercard Foundation aims to enable
30 million young people, particularly young women, to access dignified and fulfilling
work by 2030. It seeks to establish, operate, and provide programs and services to help
African youth access education, understand and utilize technology, and develop the
skills necessary to succeed in a diverse and global workforce. As part of the Going
Beyond Project, 300,000 young people will be equipped with essential
entrepreneurship and 21st-century skills to improve their business outcomes.

The project has a comprehensive Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning Plan, and
will measure its success by tracking progress toward project indicators across the
project’s three impact pathways, 1) strengthening of partner organizations’ capacity,
2) the engagement of young leaders, and 3) the empowerment of youth with Micro,
Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The project has 22 indicators, which come from the Mastercard Foundation’s
Measuring Our Shared Impact indicator guide, and include the well-being and
resilience of youth, the number of youth in dignified and fulfilling work, changes in
organizational capacity development, and increased revenues among enterprises.
These indicators will help assess progress towards goals like strengthening the
capacity of Youth-Led organizations, empowering youth as leaders of socio-economic
development, and improving enterprise performance and dignified and fulfilling work
for youth. Data will be collected through surveys, interviews, and other methods to
ensure accurate monitoring and evaluation of the project’s impact.

This is a 5-year project, which began on June 1, 2023, and will end on May 31, 2028.
Starting with Tanzania and Malawi, DOT will use a staggered approach to allow for
learning and adaptation with each round. DOT understands Tanzania’s context best
given its 11-year presence and previous implementation experience in Malawi. This
approach allows DOT to build momentum rapidly and apply lessons learned to new
contexts.

Participants in this project include the following 3 groups: 1) employees and leaders of
Youth-Led Organizations and Youth Serving Organizations 2) youth (ages 18-35) who
are underemployed and unemployed university graduates (Youth Leaders); and 3) youth (18-35) who are necessity-based entrepreneurs (Youth Peers). Among the youth
participants representing Youth Leaders and Youth Peers, 70% will be young women.
Among this 70% target of young women, there will be representation from vulnerable
young women, such as single mothers and survivors of GBV. Additionally, among the
total youth participants, the project will ensure the inclusion of socially excluded
groups such as refugees, youth with disabilities, and rural youth. 

DOT will engage with local YLOs and YSOs through trust-based partnerships,
providing them with capacity-building support, resources, and training opportunities
to deliver high-quality digital livelihoods programming. Eligible YLOs and YSOs will
receive comprehensive training, mentorship, access to resources, and networking
opportunities to enhance their capacity to deliver impactful programs and support.
services to local young women and men.

Youth Leaders are the 4,000 young university graduates, typically graduating into
unemployment, aged 18-35 who serve as program facilitators, mentors, and
changemakers within the project. Youth Leaders will be recruited directly by the local
YLOs and YSOs, and will receive training, and be deployed back into their
communities to empower local MSMEs with digital skills for business. They will be
engaged for 8 months. It is a project policy that 70% of Youth Leaders will be young
women.

Youth Leaders will be selected based on criteria such as leadership potential,
commitment, and community engagement. They will undergo rigorous training
programs covering digital skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, and gender equality.
Depending on local circumstances training will be conducted through face-to-face
and/or virtual (online) sessions.

Youth leaders will have significant opportunities for personal and professional
development as they mentor their peers, facilitate training sessions, organize
community events, and contribute to project planning and implementation. They will
also receive ongoing support and professional development opportunities, and a
stipend for the valuable work that they do during their engagement.

Yes, youth leaders will be provided with a monthly stipend to support their basic
needs during their engagement with the local host organization. All agreements and
remuneration will comply with local laws and policies.

Youth Peers in the Going Beyond project refer to young Micro, Small, and Medium
Enterprise (MSME) owners, between the ages of 18-35, who are primarily
disadvantaged and necessity-based entrepreneurs in the early stages of business
startup. They are the 300,000 individuals to be reached by the project and directly
benefit from the training, resources, and support to develop their entrepreneurial
skills and grow their businesses.

Youth Peers will participate in training programs, workshops, mentoring sessions, and
networking events, and access resources and support to develop their digital and
entrepreneurship skills, launch or grow their businesses, and become agents of
change in their communities.

Youth Peers will be invited to access financial support through seed funding provided
by the project and access to DOT’s network (e.g. Impact Makers Advisory Board
(IMAB) to seek out additional grants, micro-loans, and linkages to financial institutions
and investors. Additionally, they will receive training on financial literacy, business
planning, and accessing financial services to support their ventures.

The Impact Makers Advisory Board (IMAB) is a board made up of philanthropists,
impact investors, and young social entrepreneurs whose goal is to convene
stakeholders to support and uplift youth-led enterprises in Africa to incubate quickly
towards impact and scale.

No, there are no fees associated with participation in Going Beyond programs.
However, participants are expected to commit their time and attention to the
programming.

The project has adopted inclusive and equitable approaches to ensure the
participation and representation of marginalized or vulnerable youth, from the
inception and co-designing of the project to its implementation. These groups include young women, persons with disabilities, and those from underserved
communities. All outreach efforts will adhere to strict participant guidelines, for
example, 70% of participants will be young women. 

DOT’s Gender and Safeguarding Team will ensure that the safeguarding of young
people is upheld in the project. To ensure this, we will focus on the following 5 core
components:
1. Prevention of safeguarding incidents through robust and documented PSEA
policy and procedures which includes: vetted partner organizations for
safeguarding capacity, and all project staff will agree to adhere to and sign off on
DOT’s PSEA policy and procedures, completing regular risk assessments to identify
potential project and community-level risks, and developing localized approaches
to mitigate these risks.
2. Building Awareness of policies and procedures among youth and community
members: through Safeguarding training for all Going Beyond project staff at DOT
partners, youth leaders, and youth peer level, paired with accessible materials that
communicate safeguarding information to relevant audiences.
3. Providing Accessible, Relevant, and Confidential reporting systems that have
been co-designed with young people, especially those facing increased
vulnerability to abuse or exploitation, and including multiple channels to report.
4. Responding to reports in a transparent and timely manner, including
investigations as needed through clear roles and responsibilities for safety at every
level and across all project partners.
5. Offering survivor-centered support to any survivor of SEAH, including ensuring
their safety and well-being, and accessing necessary medical, legal, or psychosocial
support..

Technology is pervasive in managing the project and in delivering training, facilitating
communication, providing access to resources, and enabling digital
entrepreneurship. All partners and participants will receive training on digital skills,
utilization of online platforms for networking, and the leverage of technology for
business growth.

The project will work with local organizations and infrastructure providers to
encourage the provision of access to ICT infrastructure, devices, and other relevant
training programs for youth participants.

The project will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing through workshops,
forums, social media, online platforms including www.dotrust.org/publications , and
community-based events. All participants and stakeholders will have opportunities to
exchange ideas, share best practices, and contribute to collective learning and
innovation.

● To learn more about Going Beyond, you can visit DOT’s website at
www.dotrust.org The website provides detailed information about the
program, including its objectives, impact, and how to get involved as a
participant, mentor, partner, or supporter.
● Alternatively, you can contact DOT directly through their website or reach
out to their team members for more information, clarification, or to inquire
about specific aspects of the program. They will be happy to provide you
with additional details and answer any questions you may have