Market Pathways for Marginalized Youth

The Building Leadership, Opportunities and Options for Marginalized Women and Girls ( BLOOM Africa⁣ ) project is a five-year (2025-2030), gender-transformative initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by World Vision to strengthen the economic empowerment, agency, and livelihood opportunities of marginalized adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), particularly those who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). Across Rwanda, Tanzania, and Somaliland, BLOOM aims to build more inclusive pathways from skills training to decent work by linking youth to market-relevant training, employers, finance, mentorship, and safer income-generating opportunities. The project commissioned labour market assessments in Rwanda, Tanzania and Somaliland between December 2025 and July 2026 to identify sectors, skills pathways, employer needs, financial products, and systemic barriers affecting economic opportunities for marginalized NEET youth, particularly AGYW aged 15–24.

This brief brings together the main findings from assessments conducted in 13 districts in Rwanda, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and Hargeisa and Burco in Somaliland to inform BLOOM implementation and broader youth employment programming.