About 6,000 start-ups and unemployed graduates are benefiting from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Works programme dubbed “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” with the National Board for Small Scale Industries.

The training is expected to help the beneficiary start-ups to gain some advance knowledge on building a business and also get them exposed to the current business environment.

Consultant for the project, Maame Serwah Amoakohene believes the objective of helping businesses to sustain their operations beyond a year will be achieved before the end of the programme duration.

The programme is part of the partnership initiatives of the Mastercard Foundation and the National Board for Small Scale Industries to curb the potential negative effect of the coronavirus on small businesses.

Targeting 70% women, it is expected that it will benefit mostly unemployed graduates, school dropouts, fresh entrepreneurs and among others.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Joy Business expressed confidence that it will help them navigate the unseen challenges of the business environment.

“It is projected that the rate of unemployment will increase significantly as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, hence our initiative targeting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will support in minimizing that negative effect”, Executive Director of the National Board for Small Scale Industries, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh.