The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed an $850,000 grant agreement with Invest in Africa (IIA) to roll out a two-year initiative targeting up to 500 green jobs for marginalized and vulnerable groups in Ghana and Senegal.
The programme, formally titled Strengthening Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities’ Micro-Entrepreneurship for Green Jobs in Natural Resources, will focus on agroforestry, fisheries, and biodiversity conservation, sectors the Bank sees as key to climate-resilient employment and sustainable growth.
Funding will come from the AfDB’s Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), with additional backing from its Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
Women and youth remain underrepresented in Africa’s green economy, a gap the project seeks to address by tackling structural barriers such as limited training access, high business service costs, and gender inequities. In Ghana and Senegal, where economies remain fragile, such constraints have stifled small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those led by women and young entrepreneurs.
Under the Capacity Development and Value Chain Enhancement component, MicroGREEN will provide tailored training, mentorship, and business development support to strengthen SME competitiveness. It will also integrate micro-enterprises into green value chains, enabling them to scale operations while promoting sustainable resource use.
IIA, a non-profit that supports African SMEs through improved market access, skills, and financing, will lead implementation. FAPA, whose primary donor is the government of Japan, has committed more than $80 million to over 100 projects in 38 African countries, cementing its role in preparing bankable private sector investments.
By linking capacity building with value chain participation, the initiative aims to accelerate inclusive, climate-resilient economic growth in West Africa.
