Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Secondary School Transitions Study
Final Report
The Secondary School Transitions Study investigated what has been done and what still needs to be done to prepare secondary school-aged youth to transition into the workforce and/or continuing education. This study aimed to fill the gap in research and understanding about interventions supporting secondary school-aged youth to navigate the critical formative years when schooling is no longer compulsory.
The study principally examined national career guidance efforts and interventions aimed to prepare youth with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to successfully transition into work or further education, and whether interventions were perceived (or ideally documented) to effectively set youth up for successful transitions. The study includes snapshots of each of the 11 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries in which USAID works. Lessons learned and recommendations for future USAID technical programming are presented to guide future efforts to support secondary school-aged youth in the region.
The USAID/Middle East Bureau and Missions throughout MENA commissioned this study in August 2021. USAID and relevant Missions serve as the primary audience; however, this study is also intended to benefit ministries, donors, and organizations who design and implement secondary school interventions in the region.