The MicroGREEN project, which Invest in Africa and the African Development Bank jointly launched, aims to give marginalized and vulnerable populations in Senegal and Ghana access to livelihood opportunities.
To create up to 500 green job possibilities and provide crucial company development services, the project, named “Strengthening Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities’ Micro Entrepreneurship for Green Jobs in Natural Resources (MicroGREEN),” was created.
The African Development Bank has provided a $1 million grant to support the MicroGREEN project for two years through its Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund. With a goal distribution of 60% young women, 10% those with special needs, and 30% other youth in both nations, it will offer entrepreneurship capacity building and business skills to at least 1,000 youth aged 15 to 35.
Speaking at the inaugural event on Thursday, the Bank’s Ghana Country Manager, Eyerusalem Fasika, underlined the organization’s dedication to tackling issues of poverty and climate change following the Sustainable Development Goals and Nationally Determined Contributions.
In particular, the bank’s gender strategy, which aims to empower women by granting them access to finance, boosting employment, and expanding access to social services, was one of the measures Fasika emphasized to promote inclusive growth. She also emphasized the Bank’s partnership with UN Women to support women’s emancipation in the natural resources industry.
“It is our conviction that applying a gender lens to job creation and local economic development can lead to an inclusive transition to a green economy which offers unique opportunities to reduce gender inequalities in the African labor market,” she stressed.
Ghana’s Carol Anang, Country Manager for Invest in Africa(link is external), observed that the project’s launch was opportune and would draw in more chances to enhance livelihoods, especially for marginalized communities.
“Our priority is to facilitate increased synergy between large international organizations and local entities to work together to spur inclusive growth,” Anang stressed, adding that the project will enhance skills for employability.
To improve job creation, guarantee the sustainability of microenterprises, and integrate beneficiaries into economic systems, the project will make use of value chain-based small and medium enterprise development models. Leading the implementation will be Invest in Africa, which will use its experience in developing skills and gaining access to markets to promote long-term company expansion and employment generation.
The Finance Ministry of Ghana’s Solomon Amponsah stated that the government supports the project’s effective execution. “Your dedication to sustainable development and inclusive growth is incredibly motivating. Together, I’m sure we can significantly improve the lives of thousands of marginalized people in Senegal and Ghana.
Government representatives from Senegal and Ghana, program leads from Invest in Africa and the African Development Bank, representatives of civil society organizations, and other social sector partner agencies came together for the hybrid launch ceremony.
Salimata Soumare, Bank Task Manager for MicroGREEN, gave an overview of the project and stated that it will also help intermediaries that offer training, project development support, mentoring, and advisory services to MSMEs and entrepreneurs.
The Bank’s efforts to promote green initiatives through the African Natural Resources Management and Investment Center and to create 25 million employment for youth by 2025, as well as to equip 50 million people to achieve their goals, were highlighted during the event.
The national manager stated that the Bank is now developing a platform to track and monitor green jobs from the Bank’s portfolio of programs, particularly those about climate action, environment, circular economy, and biodiversity initiatives.
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