The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) on Thursday, 27th October, 2022, launched the Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) project with the support of the Oxfam Volunteer Cooperation Project (VCP).
The YES project is designed to boost youth startups to scale up and ensure their sustainability. It will provide basic business management skills, marking and branding techniques. It seeks to build business capabilities to grow, thrive and be able to employ other young people.
YES, is borne out of studies conducted by FOSDA on the impact of COVID-19 on youth businesses and local economies, women and vulnerable groups as well as market surveys conducted in Tamale, Kumasi and Accra. ‘YES’ is also a response to the global economic challenges which has engineered high youth unemployment in Ghana and other African countries.
Speaking at the launch, FOSDA’s programme officer Solomon Okai noted that youth unemployment has implications for security and stability of a country and must be given the priority it deserves that is why the project is targeting them. He provided more information about the project including;
- Focus on youth 18-35 years.
- Inclusive with a quota for female and PWDs led startups
- Will be implemented in the Ashanti and Northern Regions
- Target youth businesses operating between 6months to 2 years.
- Focus on Agri-business value chain, catering, smock weaving etc.
Solomon revealed that this phase of the project is a pilot phase targeting 20 young people in 2 regions of Ghana. It is a 6months project from October 2022 to March 2023. YES, will focus on capacity building and it also includes a coaching and mentoring program for the beneficiaries.
The YES Project was conceived and being implemented in partnership with FOSDA’s youth networks across Ghana. This phase is partnering specifically with the Ashanti Regional and the Northern Regional Youth Networks. FOSDA is also collaborating with YEfL Ghana and the regional offices of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) on this Project.
The uniqueness of the YES project is that it is inclusive and targets youth entrepreneurs and prepare them for bigger support systems and opportunities. It is also embedded with policy advocacy for youth businesses.