Interventions to Support Resilience and Address Economic Inclusion Among Youth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Abstract Youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant challenges transitioning from school to the workforce, often exacerbated by limited employment opportunities and socio-economic instability. Economic inclusion interventions have emerged as promising strategies to support resilience and facilitate productive transitions to adulthood. This scoping review aims to map and synthesize the extent, characteristics, and outcomes of such interventions in LMICs. A comprehensive search of PsycINFO, PubMed, Global Health, and EconLit yielded 4,925 records. After removing duplicates, 3,257 unique titles and abstracts were screened, 52 articles were reviewed in full, and seven met the inclusion criteria. Included studies focused on direct economic inclusion efforts integrated with public health outcomes and were conducted in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, with three articles originating from a common project. Across all included studies, the overarching aim was to build resilience and support transitions to adulthood by improving access to education and employment. Positive outcomes were observed in savings behaviour, educational attainment, self-efficacy, and future orientation. However, interventions had limited reach to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), showed modest shifts in gender norms, and demonstrated minimal direct impact on employment integration. Youth economic inclusion programs in LMICs yield promising outcomes across financial, educational, and psychosocial domains. Nonetheless, significant gaps remain in engaging NEET youth, addressing structural barriers, and facilitating sustainable employment. Future programs should prioritize inclusive, gender-responsive, and multisectoral approaches to enhance reach, impact, and long-term resilience among vulnerable youth populations.