The Youth Venture Initiative: Harmonized Programs for Economic Opportunities

This project aims to strengthen the capacity of Ethiopian organizations serving youth by offering marginalized youth entrepreneurship training that enhances their employment prospects. The initiative introduces a mentoring program along with access to capital for youth wishing to establish their own small businesses. The project targets youth from the inner city and urban slums of the Addis Ababa and Amhara regions of Ethiopia. This initiative aims to better equip youth to pursue livelihood options establish their own small business and make choices such as furthering their formal education leading to a healthier and more self-sufficient future. This is one of two components of a project with a total CIDA contribution of $311 851. The first component has been completed.