TechnoServe will on Thursday April 3rd, 2014 launch a new enterprise development program dubbed ENGINE (Enhancing Growth in New Enterprises) at the British Council in Accra.

It is a multi-year program that will be implemented across Ghana with the support of the British Government.

“ENGINE” will identify entrepreneurial men and women and equip them with the tools and networks they need to build competitive, self-sustaining micro and small enterprises that will accelerate economic growth and reduce poverty through business plan competition and aftercare.

The program is expected to tap the high entrepreneurial energy of the Ghanaian, with emphasis on youth and women participation. Applications will be drawn from agri-business and processing, light manufacturing, information technology, services and private sector solution to water, health and education.

“ENGINE” is modeled on business plan competitions TechnoServe has successfully implemented in over 54 countries across Africa and Central America and is also rolling out elsewhere in Asia. Since debuting in El Salvador in 2002, these competitions have helped hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs to create or expand dozens of businesses.

TechnoServe has been working in Ghana since 1971. In the last 10 years alone, TechnoServe/Ghana has provided business development services to more than 200 businesses and has facilitated entrepreneurship training and capacity-building programs for more than 500 potential entrepreneurs, resulting in numerous start-ups and business expansions.

TechnoServe helps entrepreneurial men and women in the developing world to build businesses that provide jobs, income and economic opportunity. Since its founding in 1968, the U.S.-based nonprofit has helped to create or improve businesses, benefiting millions of people in over 30 countries.