Category GEW

GENSL , GEW , Innosl

Global Entrepreneurship Week- GEW 2020

Join GEN- Sierra Leone and Innovation SL in celebrating this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (16th – 22 November)

Share the link below and follow the discussion on the GEN- Sierra Leone facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/105528331372500/posts/111270414131625/

About GEW:

Every year in November, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) inspires, connects mentors, and engages aspiring and established entrepreneurs through tens of thousands of activities. Powered globally by the Kauffman Foundation, GEW is made up of host organizations running national campaigns in 170 countries along with partner organizations who hold events & activities during the Week
Objectives:
Inspire.
Introduce the notion of entrepreneurial behavior to as many people who otherwise might not have considered it as a path in their life.
Connect.
Network people across national boundaries in a global effort to find new ideas at the intersection of cultures & disciplines.
Mentor.
Enlist active and inspirational innovators around the world to coach and mentor the next generation as they pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Engage.
Demonstrate to opinion leaders and policymakers that entrepreneurship is central to a nation’s economic health and culture and to provide different nations with the opportunity to learn from each other on entrepreneurial policy and practice.

GEW , News

Report Dare 2 Aspire: Women in Entrepreneurship- Global Entrepreneurship Week 2019- November 20th

Dare 2 Aspire: Women in Entrepreneurship

Dare 2 Aspire was the flagship event of the GEW celebration. It was held on the 20th November 2019, at the Hotel Cabenda, Freetown. It was dedicated to women; women who are actively involved in entrepreneurship or dare to aspire into entrepreneurial endeavors.

The event was officially opened by Ambassador Tom Vens, the European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone. He stepped for the Mayor of Freetown was could make the opening, but came later. (See rest of this report).

In Sierra Leone, women represent a large untapped market as emerging business leaders. 52.8% of our youth population are women.  Approximately 84% of rural women and 63% of urban women operate micro-enterprises such as small-scale farming, table-top trading, artisanal mining, and small-scale fishing.

Women’s participation in entrepreneurship is crucial as it can enhance the expansion of economic goods whilst leading to less inequality, simultaneously. Investment in entrepreneurship targeting female as well as male youth is critical to ensure Sierra Leone can harness its demographic dividend.

Consequently, Dare2Aspire celebrated women in Entrepreneurship. This year, it  consisted of:

  1. A mini expo of women owned businesses
  2. Financial inclusion clinic for women entrepreneurs
  3. A series of discussions and debates by women entrepreneurs
  4. A pitch night consisting of a panel of women entrepreneurs and women pitchers.
  5. Panel discussion on fashion as an alternative career path
  6. A Fashion show

Rep_Dare2Aspire_GEW2019_draftreport V1_NoPictures

Features , GEW , IFC

IFC-FCS AFRICA / CASA PROGRAM

FCS Africa / CASA Program is to strengthen the private sectors of fragile states. FCS Africa / CASA Program provides support through a combination  of initiatives that includes among others a  focus on gender (a ‘gender lens’ is helping ensure IFC projects support women in business).

To this end, FCS Africa / CASA Program has agreed to sponsor “Dare 2 Aspire-Women in Entrepreneurship”

 

IFC’s CASA Initiative in Sierra Leone

WHAT IS THE CASA INITIATIVE?
IFC’s CASA Initiative, launched in 2008, is helping design and implement integrated strategies specially targeted to support economic recovery in conflict-affected countries. The Initiative is supported by Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway, while Denmark and Sweden provide additional support in South Sudan and Liberia respectively.

The CASA Initiative focuses on:

• Improving the business environment
through regulatory reform

• Strengthening small and medium
sized businesses and support
institutions, such as chambers of
commerce

• Rebuilding financial markets, banks,
and other financial institutions

• Increasing private sector involvement
in providing and rebuilding
infrastructure such as roads, ports,
schools, and power stations

CASA’s Support
IFC’s CASA Initiative is helping strengthen smaller businesses in Sierra Leone and is
working with the government and private sector partners to introduce regulatory
improvements to the country’s investment climate.

Supporting Smaller Businesses
IFC is helping improve access to finance in Sierra Leone for individuals and businesses
through the Africa MSME Program, the Microfinance Program, the Trade Finance
Program, and the Leasing Program.

IFC’s SME Ventures Program is providing risk capital and advisory services to smaller
businesses in the country, which are receiving training support through IFC’s Business
Edge and SME Toolkit training products. IFC is also helping strengthen Sierra Leone’s
financial markets by supporting the establishment of a Credit Bureau and a Collateral
Registry.

CASA has also provided advisory support to the National Revenue Authority, which
has authorized all major banks to accept tax payments. In the past, taxpayers could
pay their taxes only at tax offices, so this innovation is saving taxpayers a considerable
amount of time.

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