Step off the plane. Exchange money. Find a taxi. Arrive at the hotel. Check in. Eat dinner. Visit a national tourism site. Buy a souvenir. Return to a clean room. Repeat.

We know that our future depends on resilient and thriving societies, and this starts with young people. A growing number of global companies recognize the importance of engaging youth as customers, employees, and innovators in support of these companies’ sustainability goals.

We live in a time of rapid economic, social, and environmental change. No group has a greater stake in the consequences of these global trends than the world’s 1.8 billion young people, the largest youth cohort in history.

For years, international development practitioners have been applying a market systems approach to agricultural value chains, working within the systems’ new or existing rules and promoting access to the supporting functions that foster, rather than impede, agricultural growth.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Jordan hired Making Cents to develop tools they could use to better link Syrians and Jordanians with long-term jobs in two industries with high hiring potential – garment and furniture.

Since fighting broke out in 2011, more than 1.6 million Syrians have fled to Lebanon and Jordan. While many remain vulnerable, a significant number have obtained employment, started businesses, and successfully restarted their lives.

Thank you for working with us to advance the social and economic well-being of youth and adults around the world! Together we’ve achieved a lot in 2017.

More than 60% of Africa’s population is under 25 years of age, making sub-Saharan Africa the world’s youngest region. By 2030, it will be home to more than one-quarter of the world’s under-25 population.

In September, Making Cents International convened our 11th annual Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit (GYEO Summit).