What post-capacity development support do the youth need?
The post capacity development support that youth need is mentorship and coaching. There must be a systematic guidance to the ventures or businesses young people undertake. My work as a mentor under Next Generation Cocoa Youth Program (MASO) project funded by MasterCard Foundation's Youth Forward Initiative and implemented by Solidaridad and Ashesi University in Ghana has shown that guidance and direction for youth helps to bring out excellent results. Youth in rural areas who had little idea about business where taken through a Business Academy to acquire skills and knowledge to identify business opportunities in their environment. Coaches and Mentors are then introduced to them to share their experiences in business start-up, motivate and build the confident of mentees. Through this successful businesses were established by young people in their communities.
What can the youth do to support each other in developing their skills and capacities?
As mentioned by Halimatou youths need to form networks. Youth network such as Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) need to be supported financially to facilitate the creation of opportunities and relevant networks for young people. The YPARD Ghana chapter recently organized an Agribusiness Networking Cocktail to bring together various companies and organizations in agriculture and agribusiness. All drinks, meat and items for the event were sourced locally from young agripreneurs. Through the event, Goat Master Ltd (www.goatmastersgh.com) the suppliers of Goat Kebab for the event has secured the opportunity to serve his goat kebab to the staff of BEIGE, one of the leading investment companies in Ghana. The Agribusiness Network Cocktail is part of a programme called Farmers Connect under the Future Farmers Initiative (FFI) designed by YPARD Ghana and its partners.
Youth networks must also serve as a link between the young agriprenuers, authorities and agencies of governments. The various youth groups existing in any particular country must join forces to push government and authorities to release funds for youth enterprises with flexible payment terms.
Mr. Kafui Agbe