The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) – an Agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), is implementing Subcomponent 2.1 of the Project. The Agency will provide entrepreneurship training to 50,000 youth who have the potential to start a business.
Three levels of entrepreneurship training will be offered: basic, intermediate, and advanced. The training will be based on standardized, quality-assured packages in different locations nationwide. All training will be delivered using an experiential participatory approach conducive to adult learning and will also be district based and non-residential.
All advanced training participants will receive mentoring and coaching support, which encompasses guidance to prepare business plans, meet business registration and licensing requirements, and connect with input and output markets. Short-duration internships, mentoring and guidance sessions would be arranged for some selected beneficiaries.
5,000 selected youth who successfully undergo training up to the intermediate and advanced levels would be eligible for Business Startup Grants. These grants will be available to individuals and self-formed groups, with high potential to succeed in business, and operating in any sector aside from the extraction of natural resources.
The start-up grants will be provided for the following:
- Purchase of machinery and equipment, or technology (software, process technology, etc.)
- Start-up business investments targeted at productivity and growth such as marketing and sales, innovation efforts, or operational efficiency
- Working capital, such as the purchase of raw materials and consumables, and payment of salaries, rents, and other accounts payables
- Payment for technical advisory services, training, and subscriptions to platforms
- Payment for regulatory compliance, e.g., RGD, FDA registration, and license, GSA certification, etc.
- Start-ups seeking to provide essential goods that help to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other disease that may pose a threat to the nation
Eligibility Criteria (Who Qualifies to Apply)
The following category of youth will be targeted:
- Persons from 18 to 40 years old
- Minimum of Basic Education Certificate Examination
- Willingness to start a business
- School dropouts already in a business would be considered
- Special attention would be given to women and Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
Documents Needed to Complete Your Application
You will need the following documents to complete your application
- Digital Address
- Valid National ID Card preferably “Ghana Card”
- Certificate of the most recent education attained
- Valid mobile number
Stages of the YouStart Programme
These stages provide an overview of the whole GEA YouStart Job and Skills processes. Applicants are to take note of these stages before registering.
Stage #1 Application/Registration
Registration and application for the project are targeted at Ghanaians from the ages of 18 to 40 with at least a Basic Education Certificate Examination qualification and willingness to start a business. School dropouts already in a business would be considered for this project as well. Special attention would be given to women and Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
Stage #2 Readiness And Needs Assessment
Shortlisted applicants would be invited by GEA Officers in their respective locations for a readiness screening/needs assessment exercise for verification of data provided by applicants and identification of needs for Entrepreneurship Development.
Stage #3 Entrepreneurship Training
A district-based and non-residential Entrepreneurship Training would be conducted at 3 levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced using an experiential participatory approach conducive to adult learning
Stage #4 Coaching and Mentoring
Coaching and Mentoring support would be provided to beneficiaries who progress to the advanced level to finalize their business plans, meet licensing and registration requirements, testing of products on the market. Short duration internship, mentoring and guidance sessions would be arranged for some selected beneficiaries
Stage #5 Competitive Start-up Grants
5,000 selected youth (individual or self-formed groups) who successfully undergo training up to the intermediate and advanced levels would be eligible for Business Startup Grants. They must demonstrate high potential to succeed in business, and operating in any sector aside from the extraction of natural resources