Standard Chartered has launched an economic empowerment programme to develop employable skills for the youth, with a special focus on marginalised groups and women to promote inclusivity.
The initiative, themed ‘Ready for Inclusive Sustainable Employment and Entrepreneurship’ (RISE/E), seeks to empower over 200 youth focusing on persons with disability over the next three years – with 50 percent of the slot reserved for people with disability and an overall 50 percent for females.
The RISE/E Programme forms part of the bank’s global initiative – Futuremakers – which seeks to empower the youth economically by providing skills development opportunities to boost employability and business training to encourage entrepreneurship.
Funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation, RISE/E will be delivered by Challenges Ghana and Sightsavers – who will work together to develop vibrant, growing, employability pathways for young people and strengthen microbusinesses, supporting entrepreneurs with and without disabilities to grow their businesses, access finance and stimulate job creation.
The CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC, Mansa Nettey, speaking at the launch emphasised that this initiative is another milestone in the bank’s impact journey as a responsible corporate entity committed to touching lives in communities where it operates.
“We live in a world where social and environmental challenges are increasing daily, impacting the economic and social lives of members. This has led to a growing awareness for businesses to step up and rise to the changes. Through Futuremakers, we are championing economic inclusion for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds,” she said.
She highlighted that the bank is on a mission to drive commerce and prosperity through its unique diversity without leaving anyone behind.
“We have seen the difference investing in small businesses can make on the wider economy. We are positive that by bringing in a more diverse group of beneficiaries we will extend the gains made in our community impact programmes,” she added.
Mr. David Agyemang, Senior Programmes Manager, Sightsavers Ghana, said the programme is geared to make a difference in Ghana by enabling Persons Living with Disability to acquire skills for employment and entrepreneurship. He added that it will also develop skills and competences which are likely to be demanded by businesses and other small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
The programme is open to young people aged 18 – 35 operating micro businesses in Accra for a minimum of two years with at least two staff – including the business owner, and the business should address environmental, climatic or social issues.
Pearl Emefa Siale, Country Director-Challenges International Ghana, an implementing partner, narrated that the programme is divided into two parts – the skills development for employability to be implemented by Sightsavers International, and the entrepreneurship development to be executed by Challenges Ghana.
The three-year project is estimated to directly benefit over 200 persons, with and without disability, to gain employable skills, and lead to the creation of over 140 jobs by the micro businesses that will be supported.
The skills development aspect is 100 percent tailored for persons with disability, of which half is reserved for females. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, is equally divided between persons with and without disability. However, 50 percent of such businesses must also be women-led.
The first cohort is to comprise 30 entrepreneurs and 30 jobseekers. The self-learning training will take participants through models that are in high demand on the job market. Mentorship and internship are also included to provide holistic knowledge acquisition.
