KIC and AGRA distribute start-Up kits to disadvantaged youth in agriculture in Ghana
The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has taken another bold step to empower youth and women-led agribusinesses under the Expanding, Mentoring and Coaching to build capacity and expand access to Technical and Financial resources for disadvantaged youth in agriculture in Ghana Project. This project is funded by AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation under the YEFFA (Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture) Programme.
As part of the project’s commitment to building resilient and sustainable agribusinesses, over 337 youth and women-led MSMEs across Ghana have received start-up kits to strengthen their enterprises, boost productivity, and create jobs within their communities.
The start-up kits, which include quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, protective equipment, and basic farming tools, are designed to address one of the major barriers faced by young agripreneurs, including limited access to resources to scale their ventures.
Transforming lives through agribusiness
The Project continues to bridge the gap between innovation and opportunity. Through the project, KIC and AGRA are committed to strengthening Ghana’s agricultural value chains through capacity building, mentorship, market linkages, and access to finance for young people in hard-to reach or disadvantaged communities. Participants who received the start-up kits expressed their optimism about how the support will enable them to expand their business, adopt improved practices, and increase productivity.
By targeting both youth and women-led enterprises, the project ensures inclusivity, while promoting sustainable food systems and addressing unemployment in rural and peri-urban areas.
Building Sustainable Food Systems
Speaking about the impact of the project, Mr. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, Executive Director of KIC, highlighted that the initiative will equip young people with the tools and confidence they need to build viable agribusinesses. “With the right business development and support, young people can transform agriculture into a pathway for decent work, innovation, and community impact,” he added.
In partnership with AGRA and other partners, KIC continues to create opportunities for young people in agribusiness. By empowering youth and women-led MSMEs with resources, skills, and networks, the Expanding, Mentoring and Coaching to build capacity and expand access to technical and financial resources for disadvantaged youth in agriculture in Ghana Project will enable agripreneurs thrive and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s food security and economic growth.
Through initiatives like this, KIC continues to invest in the future — one entrepreneur at a time.
About AGRA
AGRA is an African-led organisation focused on putting farmers at the centre of our continent’s growing economy. AGRA advances uniquely African solutions to sustainably raise farmers’ productivity and connect them to a growing marketplace. Together with its partners—including researchers, donors, African governments, the private sector, and civil society—AGRA seeks to create an environment where Africa sustainably feeds itself.
About Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. It was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is an independent organization, and its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by its own Board of Directors and senior leadership team. It is a registered Canadian charity with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa.
For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org
About Kosmos Innovation Center Ghana
The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses who have big ideas and want to see their country grow. The KIC was established in Ghana in 2016 with programs focused on inspiring and empowering young entrepreneurs to drive change in their own country. Since its inception, the KIC has focused on innovation in agriculture – the country’s most important sector and largest employer. More than 7,600 aspiring entrepreneurs have participated in KIC Ghana programs, resulting in the creation of promising start-ups that have gone on to secure seed funding, additional business training, and capital investment.
For more information, visit www.kicghana.org
Media contacts:
mediarelations@kicghana.org
