When Is the Deadline for Ghana YouStart GJSP Application
The opening of the portal on the 15th of November 2022, which also marked the official launch of one of the models under the state-assisted and private sector-funded entrepreneurship support, has paved the way for it to receive applications in the next six weeks, after which more than 50,000 applicants will be selected for training.
YouStart was developed to reduce restraints for existing and aspiring young entrepreneurs through the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) programme, which is part of attempts to address the high youth unemployment rate in the country.
During the three-year period from 2022 to 2025, the project aims to construct an entrepreneurial nation and generate one million new jobs for young people.
Through the project, the government and its partners intend to commit around GH¢10 billion over three years towards the development of at least a million employment.
It is being conducted by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and the National Entrepreneurship Innovation Programme (NEIP), with support from the World Bank.
It is a vehicle through which the government plans to provide money and technical support for the young between 18 and 40 years and youth-led enterprises to assist them to establish, build and grow their firms.
It is being rolled out in three stages: a commercial model, with banks on board; a faith model, which will collaborate with faith-based organizations to identify qualified candidates; and a district model, where beneficiaries will be selected through special help desks in the 216 districts across the country.
Training
The Chief Executive Officer of the GEA, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, urged jobless young people who wanted to start enterprises to take advantage of the YouStart initiative during yesterday’s launching of the portal and unveiling of the district model at the Accra Technical University.
She emphasized that YouStart is not a source of finance in and of itself, but rather the result of collaboration between individuals with entrepreneurial aspirations and the government.
She explained that the program was designed to help young people and that it will provide training to 50,000 young people, with some of them also receiving seed money to get their businesses off the ground.
She said at the end of the six weeks, the portal would be closed to applications and the selected applicants taken through a readiness screening and needs assessment, after which they would be trained to empower them with entrepreneurial skills.
“After the training, beneficiaries who are committed would be supplied with financial support to fund the expansion of their business, procurement of equipment, among others,” Mrs Yankey-Ayeh said.
To Apply for Youstart Ghana Application. Click Here
