YouthStart is a new UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) inclusive finance programme that aims to reach 200,000 youth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by 2014 with demand-driven financial and non-financial services, particularly savings and financial education initiatives. Eighteen Financial Services Providers (FSPs) from nine different countries were invited to participate in Phase I of YouthStart, which involved conducting market research to determine the design of youth-centered financial and non-financial services in the following areas:

• Situation of youth including their political and socio-economic context

• Regulatory framework that governs the provision of financial services for young people

• Supply and demand of financial and non-financial services to young people

• The financial needs and preferences of young people aged 12 to 24