Mastercard Foundation seeks support for women-owned MSMEs in agric

 Mastercard Foun­dation has pledged its support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) owned by women operating in the agricultural value chains in the country.

The Foundation would also help in strengthening agro-processors and agricul­ture-related businesses in order to develop the agricultural sector.

The Lead, Youth Engagement of Mas­tercard Foundation, Mrs Kafui Mills-Odoi, who announced this in an engagement with journalists in Accra said there was the need to train the youth to be able to play critical roles in relevant sectors of the economy, and the digitisation of corre­sponding value chains.

“By 2030, Ghana will be a continental demonstration of young people, especially women, and harnessing opportunities to shape the future of work and to create an inclusive economy with enhanced resil­ience for the most vulnerable,” she said.

Mrs Mills-Odoi said the Foundation would continue to work with various gov­ernment and the private sector to develop a long-term plan for countries to pay attention to critical areas of interest.

According to her, the plan would help provide and improve quality education and vocational training and help equip the youth with skills needed for employ­ment through digital means, and also help entrepreneurs and small businesses expand through access to financial services.

Country Director at Mastercard Foun­dation Ghana, Rica Rwigamba, said her outfit would focus on helping economical­ly disadvantaged young people in Africa in order to get opportunities to move them­selves, their families, and their communi­ties out of poverty.

“All people, no matter where their starting point in life, should have an equal chance to succeed. We believe that with access to education, financial services, and skills training, people can have that chance,” she said.

To advance education and financial in­clusion to catalyse prosperity in developing countries and to support Indigenous youth across the globe, she said Mastercard Foundation was seeking a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper.

“Our focus is supporting indigenous youth on their pathways through educa­tion and meaningful work and livelihoods reflecting their values, traditions and aspi­rations,” Rwigamba said.

 BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG