By Buba Gagigo
Eighteen women have been awarded a total of US $300,000 in small business grants by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
“Within three months, they have already invested in new equipment, expanded operations, and created jobs,” ITC said.
As part of the program, administered jointly by the ITC and UNCDF, these entrepreneurs received business coaching, along with digital and financial literacy courses. Additionally, they were equipped to utilize e-payment systems and the Afrijula e-commerce platform, enabling them to manage their finances effectively while enhancing their outreach and customer base.
Isatou Njie, CEO of Gambricks, expressed her gratitude:”The MSME grant financing not only provided us with financial assistance but also opened doors to networking opportunities, digitization, and strengthening of capacities. It has been a holistic support system that has empowered us to thrive in the competitive business.”
ITC reports that Isatou’s business utilized the grant to invest in new machinery, resulting in a 25% increase in brick production.
“Among the other successes, clothing maker K Creations converted completely to solar power. Herbal tea producer Yaxare and fashion designer Dignified now run 70% of their machines on solar, saving GMD16,000 a month on electricity costs. The grants were made through the Jobs, Skills, and Finance (JSF) Programme, a collaboration between ITC and UNCDF. The partnership facilitates comprehensive economic support through access to finance; quality and relevant business development services; and digital and financial literacy,” ITC said.