Government officials, private sector leaders, and young entrepreneurs gathered in Accra to launch the BRIDGE-in Agriculture program—an ambitious five-year initiative set to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector.

The program aims to unlock finance for agribusinesses, build entrepreneurial skills, and create 400,000 work opportunities, with 70% reserved for women.

Formally known as Building Resilience and Investing in the Development and Growth of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture, the initiative is led by CrossBoundary Advisory in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and delivered through a consortium that includes six banks—Access, Ecobank, First National Bank, Fidelity, Stanbic, and Zenith—two business development firms, Africa Skills Hub and Mind Builders Africa, and technology provider Peswa.

“BRIDGE-in Agriculture represents the kind of strategic partnership that aligns with our government’s vision to modernise agriculture, create jobs, and ensure food security,” said Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku.

“By focusing on young people and particularly young women, who are the backbone of our rural economies, this initiative supports our national strategy to build resilient agribusinesses, increase productivity, and drive inclusive economic growth.”

At its core, BRIDGE-in Agriculture uses a blended finance model, with the Mastercard Foundation providing capital to partner banks, who then offer loans to agriSMEs at a 7% interest rate.

In addition to loans, participating SMEs receive free business development training to boost their capacity, improve sustainability, and support job creation.

The financing model addresses a longstanding challenge: Ghana’s SME financing gap exceeds $5 billion, limiting growth and innovation across agribusinesses.

“The support I received from BRIDGE-in Agriculture provided me with the critical skills and capital I needed to expand my business,” said Yvonne Nuoriyee, Founder of Edible Treats and a runner-up in the program’s pitch competition.

“With increased production, I’m now able to employ more young people, especially women, and offer them training to promote female economic empowerment.”

Since its official launch in June 2023, the program has enabled SMEs to expand and reach approximately 86,000 young people by creating new work opportunities, improving existing working conditions, and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Of the 72 loans disbursed so far, 58.3% have gone to first-time borrowers, a clear indication of the program’s commitment to supporting vulnerable and previously excluded businesses.

“We are proud to lead a bold, innovative, and ambitious program that is not only making finance more accessible for agribusinesses but also equipping young entrepreneurs with the skills they need to thrive,” said Fanta Conde, Program Lead for BRIDGE-in Agriculture and Managing Director at CrossBoundary Advisory.

“By addressing the financing and capacity challenges facing youth, particularly women, we are helping to build a more modernised and resilient agricultural sector in Ghana.”

The program also fosters collaboration within the agriculture finance ecosystem through panel discussions, networking, and thought leadership events.

In addition, young entrepreneurs benefit from post-training grants and pitch competition awards that help scale their agribusinesses.

“Agriculture’s untapped potential in Ghana presents a powerful opportunity to create meaningful and dignified work for young people,” said Rica Rwigamba, Country Director of Mastercard Foundation Ghana.

“Through BRIDGE-in Agriculture, we are supporting a collaborative model that connects young people, especially young women and persons with disabilities, with the resources and opportunities they need to build sustainable livelihoods.

BRIDGE-in Agriculture directly contributes to our goal of enabling three million young Ghanaians to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.”