Overview
The Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Support (YES) initiative is another flagship program of ACIED Africa designed to create opportunities for rural youth—including women and persons with disabilities—to build their economic livelihoods through entrepreneurship skills and vocational and technical training. The program aims to increase their engagement in the rural sector, contribute to sustainable rural transformation, and develop a new generation of young entrepreneurs and rural supply chain actors.

Key Outcomes

1. Skill Development

   • Young people acquire entrepreneurship education, digital skills, and vocational and technical skills to capitalize on employment and business opportunities.

2. Market Access

   • Young smallholder rural entrepreneurs and producer groups gain direct access to markets and services.

3. Financial Inclusion

   • Young smallholder farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and migrants and their families access innovative financial products and services to finance their businesses.

4. Gender Equality and Economic Justice

   • The initiative promotes gender equality and economic justice in value chain development.