Ghanaian and Senegalese entrepreneurs are set to benefit from a grant from the African Development Bank's Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation for green jobs in natural resources.
The African Development Bank, through its Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation (YEI MDTF), has approved a grant of $999,000 to support an initiative aimed at promoting green jobs for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Aiming to strengthen the micro-entrepreneurship of women, youth, and persons with disabilities for green jobs in the natural resources sector ("MicroGREEN"), this project seeks to foster inclusive economic growth by providing up to 500 green job opportunities and business development services to marginalized groups in Ghana and Senegal.
The target group includes women, youth, and persons with disabilities or specific needs engaged in the management of natural resources such as agroforestry, fishing, and biodiversity.
The MicroGREEN project, to be implemented over a two-year period, will enable at least 1,000 young people aged 15 to 35 to acquire entrepreneurial skills and business acumen, including women (60%), persons with disabilities or specific needs (10%), and other youth (30%) in both countries.
By focusing on capacity building and utilizing SME development models based on value chains, the project aims to enhance job creation, ensure the sustainability of micro-enterprises, and integrate beneficiaries into economic systems.
Implemented by Invest in Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the growth of African SMEs and creating prosperous economies across the continent, the MicroGREEN project will leverage its expertise in market access, skills development, and access to finance to drive sustainable business growth and job creation in Ghana and Senegal.
The African Development Bank established the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2017 to promote innovation and entrepreneurship and create sustainable and enduring jobs for the continent's youth. The trust fund provides grants to support programs and initiatives of the Bank's Youth Employment Strategy in Africa. This strategy aims to create 25 million jobs and equip 50 million youth with employability and entrepreneurship skills by 2025.
