1st Inter-African Youth Entrepreneurs Exchange Programme-“Youth Entrepreneurship: Cultivating partnerships for Employment Creation, Economic Growth, and Development in Africa.”

Hosted by Afro Global Youth Exchange during the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Week, this cross-border exchange programme aims to provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration and partnerships across industries, sectors, countries and regions among youth entrepreneurs in Africa. A major objective of this exchange programme is to cultivate business and social networks as well as examine opportunities and challenges for youth entrepreneurs and governments to work effectively together to promote innovation and achieve scale and momentum for youth employment, economic growth, peace and development in Africa through entrepreneurship.

It is envisioned that the exchange programme will help entrepreneurs from various regions and countries across Africa to learn from each other, identify collective responsibilities and opportunities for increased collaboration as well as improve their ability to address their shared problems—problems that affect most of Africa. If successful, collaboration between youth entrepreneurs could increase capacity and help galvanize action for development in Africa. The exchange programme will:

• Promote and support an open, inclusive, and constructive dialogue on opportunities, challenges, and capacity for Africa’s economic development through entrepreneurship;

• Discuss ideas on how youth entrepreneurs can be stimulated and supported to become more of a force for employment creation, economic growth and development;

• Facilitate and support relationship building between individuals and institutions across sectors and countries to accelerate the development of products and markets;

• Discuss strategies on how to initiate and sustain cross-sectoral, national, regional and international collaborative efforts to enhance development in Africa.

• Attract media attention and raise awareness on how youth entrepreneurs can play a meaningful role to promote innovation and achieve scale for youth employment, economic growth, peace and development in Africa through entrepreneurship.

The five (5) day programme targets young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-34, including youth with disabilities. Speakers at the programme are from various government departments in various African countries, Non-governmental organizations, and private organizations. The following topics that will be covered:

• Developing a Culture of Entrepreneurship in the African context: Key constraints and opportunities to promote innovation and achieve scale for youth employment, economic growth, peace and development in Africa through entrepreneurship.

• Entrepreneurship and National development strategies.

• Incentivizing entrepreneurship in Africa: Public and private sector instruments to create the necessary incentives and conditions to stimulate entrepreneurship.

• Understanding the Do’s and Don’ts in the entrepreneurship cycle.

• Towards a culture of collaboration: how to identify, form, operate and sustain strategic partnerships to increase visibility, improve opportunities as well as access finance and customers outside local and traditional markets.

• Key challenges and opportunities in developing effective use of existing research and technological infrastructure to enhance entrepreneurship.

• Pitch Perfect: This is an activity in which entrepreneurs will meet individually with various institutions, organizations and individuals to pitch ideas. Prior to this event, you will have an exercise on developing ideas and pitching them. Participants will be divided into groups to develop and pitch and idea that they can work together to bring to fruition. A prize will be given to the best group. In addition, you have individuals who will have a chance to pitch an idea.

• Understanding your capacity-building support: how to develop effective mentorships and education.

•  Networking Events.

   

  TARGET AUDIENCE

• Youth Entrepreneurs;

• Government Agencies;

• Investment Promotion Agencies;

• Venture capitalists, incubators and businesses;

• Organizations promoting Entrepreneurship;

• Universities;

• Representatives of chambers of commerce, industry and business associations;

• Banks, investment funds and other financial institutions;

• Development Agencies; and

• Media representatives

   

  CONCLUSION

In view of the current challenges faced in Africa, developing and empowering youth entrepreneurs is currently the most viable and sustainable solutions that will work as a catalyst in accelerating development. Afro-Global recognizes this need and therefore endeavors to bridge these gaps through these exchange programmes that will be held annually in different African countries tackling pertinent issues. It is envisaged that the proposed exchange programme will be an attempt to jump-start the dialogue and integration needed to build a brighter future for Africa.

HOW CAN I ATTEND THE 1ST INTER-AFRICAN YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME?

At the 1st Inter-African Youth Entrepreneurs Exchange Programme we aim to bring together aspiring, young emerging and established entrepreneurs from all African countries, industries, business sectors and backgrounds. Attending are delegates between the ages of 18 – 34 years old with proven leadership abilities, many of whom have already made impact in their home countries across a range of issues.

The first step towards attending the 1st Inter-African Youth Entrepreneurs Exchange Programme is to submit a candidate application. Applicants should display the following skills and traits:

• An evident commitment to effecting positive change. This commitment can be in many forms; ranging from a high level of involvement in community initiatives to social entrepreneurship or from leading responsible business practices to public service;

• Leadership ability;

• Concern for continental or global issues;

• Ability to generate and articulate impactful ideas; and

• Teamwork.

APPLY NOW

Applications are now open for the 1st Inter-African Youth Entrepreneurs Exchange Programme.Successful applications will be informed and booking for the exchange programme will only be confirmed upon receipt of the registration payment of R9 500.00 for regional and international participants and R2 280.00 (including VAT) for local and day participants.

 The registration fee covers:

• Shared accommodation in Johannesburg for five nights, (17-21 November 2014) for international guests only.

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner on (17-21 November 2014) and breakfast only on 22nd November.

• Transport between the airport, accommodation, venue and site activities that are part of the programme.

• Access to all the Exchange Programme activities.

• Exchange Programme hand-outs and support materials.

*Please note that flight, visa application costs are not included in the registration amount. Also not included in the registration fee is accommodation costs for local and day participants.

Closing date for applications is 10 October 2014 at 24h00.

For more information email us on

applications@agyexchange.org