Saturday, July 3, 2010

BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS (B2B) PROGRAMME

The B2B Programme supports the establishment of partnerships between Danish companies and companies in Danida’s programme countries as well as Egypt and South Africa. In addition B2B Environment is available in China and Indonesia.

The Business-to-Business (B2B) Programme can assist companies in Danida's programme countries as well as Egypt and South Africa in finding a Danish partner, which can help them gain access to Danish technology and know-how. On the other hand, the Danish companies can obtain access to new markets, products and production opportunities.

B2B Environment
Partnerships investing in environmental projects in China and Indonesia may apply for support under B2B Environment.

The objective of the programme
The B2B Programme aims at developing the private sector in a range of programme countries by supporting the establishment of long-term and mutually committing partnerships between Danish companies and companies in developing countries. By using business linkages as an instrument for economic growth, the B2B Programme seeks to improve living conditions for the people in the selected countries. To learn more about the business linkage concept and the scope of the B2B Programme, please click here.

Who to contact
If you require further information or have a concrete project proposal, please do not hesitate to contact the Danish Embassies in the relevant B2B countries, where you free of charge can ask for advice. The Embassies are in a position to assist regarding project development, partner identification, and business opportunities. To access contact information for the relevant Embassies, please click here.

How to apply for support
For more information on how to apply, guidance and templates for application, reimbursement request, and reporting, please see the B2B Toolbox here.

Simultaneous applications
Please, note that companies may only apply for and get approval of B2B support in one country at a time. However, should a company apply for B2B support in several countries at a time, the applicant company is obliged to inform all the relevant embassies of this upon submission of application. Hence, if a company has a pending application or has just received an approval in one B2B country, this company should not submit a second application (or more) to other B2B countries. Applicants that do not comply with these instructions will be rejected.

For further information on requirements to companies participating in the B2B Programme, please consult the B2B Company Guidelines here.

BUSINESS SKILLS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

The world is challenged by the youth phenomena and Kenya is by no means alone. Of the 6 billion people in the world today, 1 billion comprise young people between the ages of 15-24. What is worrisome however is that of this number, 850 million live in developing countries and it is estimated that in the next 30 years, this number will have grown to 1.2 billion - mostly in developing countries. It is against this backdrop that UNDP/ Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Trade, will be offering a skills training in three districts.

Background

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Trade with financial and technical support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is rolling out a youth training initiative to empower the youth and catalyze competitive growth of trade by enhancing self-employment, and injecting a new breed of productive labour force into the country's economy in micro and small enterprises adversely affected by the post election violence.

As a result of the post election violence, the YES-MSE programme, (now being implemented under the Kenya National Youth Development and Training Programme) whose initial focus is on the millennium districts viz; Bungoma, Siaya, Suba, Bondo, Murang'a, Kilifi, Garissa, Meru South and Turkana, shall, under an early recovery strategy focus on the larger Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Nakuru districts. Later, this programme will be expanded to cover other districts.


STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMME

Phase 1: Business Skills and Entrepreneurship Development (BS&ED) Course
The main aim of this phase is to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset and develop business skills amongst the participants. Administered in two parts, part I shall be a 3 week intensive training that will provide an opportunity for trainees to reflect upon and explore their own potential, behaviour, business skills and attitudes towards potential economic activities in their communities. Part II of this phase shall be a 3 week business experiencing attachment (BEA) whose objective is to expose trainees to best business practices.

Phase 2: Enterprise Development Agents' (EDA) Course
Using a set criterion, the programme will identify and select potential (EDAs) from the BS&ED graduates and train them to offer tailored business advisory services relevant to the communities needs within the regions of focus. This phase shall consist of a 2 week intensive training followed by a 4 weeks district business profiling task.

ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS
Under the YES-MSE Programme, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Trade are looking for highly motivated and qualified youth who are seeking to either start up their own businesses or become business development agents/consultants with the view to seeking income generating opportunities within the larger Uasin Gishu, Nakuru and Kisumu districts. In addition, the applicants should be youth who are below 35 years, holders of Bachelors Degrees, completed within the past 3 years, currently unemployed yet actively seeking self-employment, have exceptional drive to start up a business and/or interested in the field of business consultancy and possess a passion for learning and innovation besides being highly committed to the development of the stated regions of focus. Holders of Masters Degrees will have an added advantage. Youth from the larger Kisumu, Nakuru and Uasin Gishu districts; and especially women and youth with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Proof of residence is required.

check this site for more http://mirror.undp.org/kenya/kenyayouth.htm

Friday, July 2, 2010

Youth Employment Support JOBS

The Youth Employment Support (YES) Jobs for the Unemployed and Marginalized young People (JUMP) is part of the ILO’s response to the Decent Work Country Programme adopted by the Government, Workers and Employers. The objective of the ILO YES-JUMP Project is to contribute to the poverty alleviation efforts through creating decent and sustainable jobs for the youth of poor and marginalized communities. The YES JUMP project aims to help partner communities and youth groups find more socially responsible and community driven solutions to poverty alleviation, with alteast 50% of its target group being young women.

YES-JUMP, has been established in Kenya and Zimbabwe, with overall technical management from ILO’s Regional Office for Africa in Addis Ababa. The project facilitates and supports entrepreneurship development, skills training, technical and financial support to local job creation schemes and strengthening small enterprises and cooperatives and business development services. The project strategy is to create a broader partnership between local stakeholders to implement priority projects for youth at the community level.
It is a two year pilot project funded by the Federal Republic of Germany.

It is a part of ILO’s response to the Global Jobs Crisis in supporting young men and women in jobs creation and enterprise development. The principles of Decent work, Sustainable livelihoods and community participation guides the project in its strategy.

The two immediate objectives of the project are:

1. In order to reduce poverty, 1000 sustainable and decent jobs are created for young women and men in selected communities in each project country, taking participatory approaches.
2. Selected project partners at national and local levels are fully able to design and implement their own youth employment schemes (institutional building)


To ensure national ownership and a community driven project, the project’s guiding structures are the National Steering Committee at the national level, the Pilot project Implementation Committee at the community level with the Local Community Facilitators at the field level. The project is mainly guided by all these committees.


Project duration – 2009 – 2011

Target group – The intended beneficiaries are the young women and men in rural and urban economies in Kenya and Zimbabwe, as identified by the project partners and the National Steering Committee. These also youth organizations including cooperatives, associations, local community organizations at the community level.


YES JUMP take the following approach to develop and implement the pilot projects:


1. Poverty reduction through community based job creation schemes
2. Provision of business development services to address the gaps identified to supplement its job creation efforts
3. National, local ownership and involvement at all stages of the project

Project team

Chief Technical Adviser – Ms. Charu Bist, ILO Regional Office for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
YESJUMP@ilo.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kenya
National Project Coordinator – Ms. Jane Maigua, ILO Office in Nairobi
yesjumpkenya@ilo.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Administrative Assistant – Ms. Mwongeli Muthuki

Zimbabwe
National Project Coordinator – Mr. Tapera Muzira, ILO Office in Harare, Zimbabwe
yesjumpzw@ilo.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Administrative Assistant – Ms. Pamela Masango

Prestigious US$350,000 Africa Entrepreneurship Prize Launched

Dubai, June 29th, 2010 - Legatum, a privately owned international investment group, and Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm, today announced the launch of the 2010 Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, one of the continent’s most prestigious business awards.

The Legatum Africa Awards programme recognises and rewards African business leaders who embody the entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrate the qualities required to succeed in business - determination, a commitment to excellence, innovation and profitability. Leaders of small and medium sized enterprises (annual revenues between US $2 - $25 million) have the opportunity to submit online entries at www.africaawards.com until 31st August 2010. Applicants will be evaluated across a unique set of criteria to determine the winner.

"This is the third year that Legatum has offered an award for Entrepreneurship in Africa" said Alan McCormick, Managing Director of Legatum, "and over that time we have found many dynamic entrepreneurs across the continent, whose businesses are building prosperity for their communities".

Mr. McCormick continued, "The Legatum Africa Awards celebrates the very best businesses from across Africa and showcases their leadership, which through hard work, determination and a creative approach, are the foundation for their nation’s wealth and well-being. Our goal is to encourage the next generation of aspiring business people and pave the way for increased investment in Africa, a continent teeming with opportunity".

The 2010 Africa Awards programme builds upon similar competitions in 2007 and 2008, and is expected to attract 1,500 entries from fifteen countries. This year, submissions will be accepted from Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. A total of US$ 350,000 will be awarded to the winners, and the funds directed towards growth and strategic re-investment in their companies.

Winners will be selected based on a rigorous and transparent selection process by an international panel of leading business experts. "Omidyar Network and Legatum share the conviction that entrepreneurs are vital to creating new opportunities in Africa", said Matt Bannick, Managing Partner of Omidyar Network. "With the expanded reach of this year's awards, we will identify and support the dynamic business leaders who are driving innovation, economic growth and terrific new opportunities across the continent."

The 2010 Legatum Africa Awards will conclude with a Gala Awards Banquet in early December 2010 in Accra, Ghana. Finalists and winners will be honoured in the presence of an international audience of leading businesspeople, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.

For more information visit..http://www.legatum.com/

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