The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Launches YAS! Platform for African Entrepreneurs
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a Pan-African Entrepreneurship Portal-Platform called YAS! (Youth for Africa and SDGs). Targeted at African entrepreneurs, the portal is designed to promote an online hub for networking, mentorship, funding, information sharing.
“The YAS! platform, serves as a Pan-African ‘one-stop solution’ to navigate the support services available in the African youth entrepreneurship ecosystem.” – @UNDPAfrica’s @LMManneh. Read the full article: https://t.co/9yLFlIJPNr pic.twitter.com/lVACiltYU5
— YAS (@youthafricasdgs) June 29, 2018
“YAS! is a much needed Pan African digital mechanism for youth entrepreneurs to access opportunities and contribute to the positive transformation of the continent through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” says UNDP Special Advisor for Private Sector, Tomas Sales.
The SDGs are directed to ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that people everywhere enjoy peace and prosperity.
@youthafricasdgs @Accenture @AIS2018 @UNDP launching the YAS platform to involve young Africans in delivering the SDGs. Tested in Rwanda, the platform supports youth led innovation throughout Africa. SDG delivery is critical – let's get involved @wearehiveonline @RealRoryMoore pic.twitter.com/sbOy78lvtY
— Gavin Erasmus (@gavraz1) June 8, 2018
Developed with support from Accenture, the TAS! Platform aides youth entrepreneurship on the continent, and provides four areas of support classified into Learning, Ecosystem Mapping, Challenges, and Opportunities.
What Would YAS! Accomplish?
One key objective of the plan is to provide help to young African entrepreneurs for issues like business plan development.
YAS! also aims to act as support human capital development by serving as a matchmaking support system.
According to Sandiso Sibisi, Accenture Africa’s Open Innovation Lead, YAS! will better serve the private sector with innovation, supplier diversification and talent on the African continent and in parallel accelerate the growth of the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The platform also aims to “develop an ecosystem map for corporates and entrepreneurs, which will locate different entrepreneurial service providers across the continent.”
What is #YAS!? This “one-stop-shop” for African entrepreneurship provides a platform for companies to set up and run challenge prix targeting youth entrepreneurs pic.twitter.com/Tijq2c9UbM
— UNDP Africa (@UNDPAfrica) June 26, 2018
YAS! is also gearing to be a key financier of African innovations. As a part of its commitments to combat poverty through SDGs, the UNDP through YAS!, will finance African entrepreneurs. The platform will also provide innovators with other information about grants and other funding sources.
Through the UNDP network, YAS aims to galvanize institutional support for Africa’s development. The success of the platform would require harmonizing the efforts of academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and governments.
YAS! Works for Entrepreneurs and Investors
The YAS! platform will be implemented on two levels. First, it serves as a listing for startups and entrepreneurs. And second, to serve as a hub for private sector donors, investors or incubators seeking startups or looking to support innovators.
The YAS! Portal platform is a great initiative to drive youth entrepreneurship across Africa. Kudos to the team and looking forward to the West African activation in November.
— Roedl & Partner NG (@Roedl_NG) July 10, 2018
The YAS platform is functional and is available for only Sub-Saharan Africa.
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