About the Assessment
In February- April 2020 USAID/Madagascar commissioned the YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation (YP2LE) activity to conduct a Cross-Sectoral Youth Assessment (CSYA). Using a Positive Youth Development (PYD) lens, the goal of the assessment was to gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities for supporting meaningful programming for youth between 10-24 years old. With the design of their Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), USAID/Madagascar sought to expand and identify opportunities to work with youth. The new CDCS is aligned with the strategies of the Government of Madagascar (GOM) and focuses on human capital development and rural development in order to support USAID’s policy framework on the Journey to Self-Reliance. The CDCS development goal is, “Improved well-being and resilience of the Malagasy people to drive Madagascar’s Journey to Self-Reliance.” The results of this assessment were intended to assist USAID/Madagascar in aligning with the PYD approach, to increase youth assets and strengthen protective factors, rather than focus on traditional reductions in risk factors/risk behaviors. Findings and recommendations from this rapid assessment are based on the results of a desk review and 34 key informant interviews (KIIs) with 51 people, including six young NGO or youth association leaders from representative geographic areas of the country.