USAID GTI has supported Social Enterprise Ghana to deliver a five-day training workshop for 20 Hubs in developing inclusive Agribusiness Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment (GTI) Activity is a USAID-funded initiative designed to increase economic growth and prosperity for the citizens of Ghana with strategic agricultural interventions.

In an era where social enterprises play a pivotal role in addressing societal challenges, it is crucial to equip these entities with the necessary business skills to thrive sustainably.

To this end, the Africa Trade Academy team proudly presents a transformative five-day training program on Business Development Services (BDS) exclusively designed for agribusiness social enterprises in Ghana.

This training aims to empower participants with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to propel their organisations forward and support inclusive MSMEs in agribusiness.

In a welcome address, the Executive Director of Social Enterprise Ghana, Edwin Zu-Cudjoe, pointed out that the essence of the training is to improve the capacity of the various inclusive BDS providers across the 16 regions of the country to create an impact for those at the bottom of the pyramid; people with disabilities, refugees, young women in the agribusiness value chain.

Speaking further, Mr Zu-Cudjoe did indicate that as part of SE Ghana’s projects, developing inclusive Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) for impact in partnership with the USAID Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment activities, they decided to conduct the BDS training aimed amongst other objectives, to improve the income of vulnerable communities and creating jobs for the underserved and vulnerable people.

“Over these five days, the regional leads and hubs and BDS providers will be trained and supported to develop inclusive MSMEs in the agribusiness sector,” Mr Zu-Cudjoe stated.

“It is our hope that all the participants would after the five-day period, improve their knowledge and skills in improving the profitability, income and employment generation of the MSMEs in agribusinesses that they support and train.

He used the occasion to wish representatives of the hubs the best as they participate in the training.

“Comrades, colleagues, distinguished social enterprise hub owners and BDS providers, it is my clarion call for all of us to give this training the needed attention it requires and further replicate same to the over 20,000 inclusive MSMEs in agribusiness across the country,” Mr Zu-Cudjoe appealed.

Touching on the focus areas of the training, the lead facilitator, Dode Seidu, enumerated the areas as follows;

Day 1: Understanding Business Development Service (BDS) provision for social enterprises in Ghana.

Day 2: How to get business to become investor ready.

Day 3: Agribusiness value chain development and finance.

Day 4: Export Market Development, and

Day 5:  Traceability and Quality Standards when it comes to being able to export to international markets.

Furthermore, Mr Seidu emphasised the need to support this initiative with the proper policy framework that will enable social enterprises to grow, develop and contribute better to Ghana’s development.

According to Mr Seidu, this training is focused on inclusion, nonetheless, there are several aspects in sectors of our economy and businesses that are not included in many of the interventions that are undertaken.

“We need government interventions that support inclusive MSMEs and Social Enterprise Ghana should really be keen to provide these types of businesses the kind of support required together with government to support inclusive businesses to grow,” Mr Seidu emphasised.

Mr. Seidu also admonished the trainers to participate fully in the workshop saying; these potential trainers are going to become the beginning of the type of social change and social development we’re looking for.

“And so the kind of training to deliver will be very significant in spurring rural development as well as in spurring inclusion of most of the people and groups of people who are often not included in some intervention that we have witnessed in the country. And I look forward to more capacity building when it comes to going down into the rural areas of the country,” Mr Seidu added.

For her part, Ruth Akosua Mintah, one of the participants who doubles as a hub operator from the Western North Region, expressed her sincere gratitude to the organisers and in turn, promised to impact the same ideas to the various Agribusiness MSMEs within her jurisdiction in order to help them grow their businesses.

The 5-day Business Development Services training facilitated by Africa Trade Academy Team is designed to empower social enterprises in Ghana.

By strengthening participants’ entrepreneurial skills, fostering strategic thinking, and providing access to relevant resources. This program will enable social enterprises to amplify their social impact and achieve sustainable growth.