AfDB, Invest in Africa Sign $850,000 Deal to Create Green Jobs in Ghana and Senegal

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has entered into a $850,000 grant agreement with non-profit organisation Invest in Africa (IIA) to implement the MicroGREEN project, designed to provide livelihood opportunities for marginalised and vulnerable groups in Ghana and Senegal.

The initiative, formally titled Strengthening Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities’ Micro-Entrepreneurship for Green Jobs in Natural Resources, aims to generate up to 500 green jobs, with a strong focus on the agroforestry, fisheries, and biodiversity conservation sectors.

These sectors have been identified as holding significant potential for climate-resilient employment and demand for a skilled workforce capable of managing ecosystems and deploying green technologies.

Funding for the project comes from the Bank’s Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA) and is complemented by an initial $1 million grant from the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund, which will support the project over a two-year period.

The FAPA grant will specifically fund the Capacity Development and Value Chain Enhancement component of the programme.

Despite their potential, women and youth remain underrepresented in Africa’s sustainable growth sectors. The AfDB believes that increasing their participation, particularly in employment-intensive green industries, could accelerate inclusive and resilient economic growth across the continent.

In many fragile or transitional economies such as Ghana and Senegal, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face limited access to entrepreneurship training and business development services.

The challenge is even more pronounced for women- and youth-led businesses, which often grapple with high service costs and systemic socio-economic and gender-based barriers.

To help overcome these constraints, the MicroGREEN project will deliver high-quality entrepreneurship training, tailored business development services, and mentorship programmes targeted at women, youth, and people with disabilities engaged in agriculture-based industries.

The objective is to strengthen their capacity, connect them to green value chains, and stimulate local job creation while promoting inclusive participation in Africa’s emerging green economy.

As the implementing partner, Invest in Africa will oversee delivery of the project. The organisation is dedicated to supporting African SMEs by facilitating market access, improving skills, and expanding access to finance.

FAPA, a multi-donor trust fund, supports technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives that align with the African Development Bank’s Private Sector Development Strategy. The Government of Japan is its primary donor. Since its inception, FAPA has financed more than 100 projects across 38 African countries, committing over $80 million to improve business environments, strengthen financial systems, and foster the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

This funding enables the Bank to play a more active role in early-stage project preparation, thereby expanding the pipeline of viable private sector investments.