What we do

We partner with local organisations in emerging market countries, and other change-makers, to enable marginalised young people to transform their lives and communities. There are more than 1.8 billion young people in the world, and many emerging market countries currently have their largest populations of young people ever. And these numbers are only expected to grow over the next 10 years. Already experiencing significant poverty, discrimination, violence, and exclusion, young people living at the margins now face the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. The crisis has taken an unprecedented toll on their schooling, health, safety, and livelihoods. Our support to local partners aims to create more opportunities, assets, networks, and safe spaces for young people. EMpower provides financial grants and other value-added support to local organisations in emerging market countries in three interconnected areas that are key to youth development: