Project Overview
The Caravan Entrepreneurship Program (CEP), the flagship program of Caravan Africa
Project, is an initiative that provides a comprehensive framework to accelerate
industrialization and create mass employment for young people on the African continent
by interlinking local value chains to create cross-border ecosystems of STEM capacities
and micro-entrepreneurial skills which through synergies can CREATE JOBS, DRIVE
TRADE & BOOST INTEGRATION for GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS.
Project Scope
The Caravan Entrepreneurship Program (CEP) is being pioneered by Afrochampions Initiative with
funding from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). CEP will create the necessary
capacity building support for micro-entrepreneurs to develop STEM-focused value chains to address
challenges and opportunities in strategic industries – agriculture, textiles and manufacturing -
within Ghana.
Caravan Entrepreneurship Program (CEP) Objectives
- Accelerate the entry and growth of new entrepreneurial STEM related businesses and expand
the
stem-capable workforce (and broaden the participation of women and minorities in the
workforce).
- Equip young African entrepreneurs to form local value chain clusters for trade growth and
access
to capital.
- Create regional and continental trade ecosystem support for micro entrepreneurs to develop
local
value chain products.
- Facilitate the creation of access to regional markets for micro-entrepreneurs within the
local
value chain clusters.
- Create mass employment for young people within the selected African countries.
Selected & Focused Value Chain
- Palm
- Plastics
- Coconut
- Wildcard - The fourth is given for applicants outside of the stated value chain clusters.
Who Can Apply
The program is open to the following selected categories of applicants;
- Entrepreneurs
- Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Consultants: Ghanaian consultants with expertise in market access, design,
public sector
engagement, product design, auditing, logistics, accounting and business development.
- Freelancers: Self-employed individuals with expertise in marketing, PR,
Graphic design,
technical writing and coding.
- STEM Researchers: Local Researchers with expertise in low-toxicity
preservation, natural
emulsification, processed food formulation, skincare formulation, organic and inorganic
chemistry, polymer research and the plastics space in general.
- Wildcards – teams or companies outside of the selected value chains.
Eligibility Criteria
Entrepreneurs and Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Applicants must be Ghanaian and be older than 18years of age.
- Business ideas proposed in the application must be feasible.
- Applicants must have knowledge and understanding of the proposed value chain product, the
market,
customers and competitors for their idea/business.
- Applicants must understand the basic financial requirements of operating a business, costs
and
revenues.
- Applicants must demonstrate potential for replication and growth of their value chain
product or
service to create jobs and wealth.
- Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential, capable of attracting people, customers
and
resources.
- Business ideas must be for profit and must be the original work of the entrepreneur making
the
submission.
- Ability to allocate time and resources to participate in the program, including attending
periodic
meetings, and implementation of field testing/pilot project in Ghana and other African
countries.
Consultants
- Applicant must be a Ghanaian citizen and not under the age of 18years.
- Applicant must have a minimum of 5years consultancy experience with work experience in Ghana
or
any sub-Saharan African country.
- Applicant with consultancy experience in the stated value chain an asset.
- Applicant must have with expertise in market access, design, public sector engagement,
project
management, product design, auditing, logistics, accounting and business development.
- Applicant must know how to work effectively with a team and be ambitious.
Researchers
- Applicant must be a Ghanaian citizen and not under the age of 18years.
- Applicant must have a minimum of 5years research experience with special focus on Ghana or
any
sub-Saharan African country.
- Applicant with market research experience in the stated value chain or STEM is an asset.
- Applicant must have expertise in low-toxicity preservation, natural emulsification,
processed food
formulation, skincare formulation, organic and inorganic chemistry, polymer research and the
plastics space in general.
- Applicant must have the skills to utilize research to assist interested stakeholders to make
evidenced-based decisions.
- Applicant must know how to work effectively with a team and be ambitious.
Freelancers
- Applicant must be a Ghanaian citizen and not under the age of 18years.
- Applicant must have a minimum of 5years self-employed experience.
- Applicant must be an expert in one these - marketing, PR, Graphic design, technical writing
or
coding
- Applicant must know how to work effectively with a team and be ambitious.
How Does the Program Work
- Source: We launch call for applications for market-oriented entrepreneurs
and innovators
from Ghana with market relevant solutions to apply to join the program.
- Training: The selected applicants will receive tailored training and
comprehensive support
to understand how they can use their STEM skills and knowledge to develop scalable local
value chain products through entrepreneurship.
- Value Chain Cluster: Selected entrepreneurs will form teams (clusters) with
other
entrepreneurs interested in similar value chains to develop innovative and market-focused
products.
- Selection: With the support of a network of expert advisors, we select
high-performing
cluster of entrepreneurs, via pitching and product demos, with innovative value chain
products to move into our incubator program.
- Incubator: The incubator program offers entrepreneurship capacity support
for fellows to
form clusters to work on identified agriculture value chain products. Entrepreneurs will be
supported by consultants, researchers, freelancers, government agencies, etc Fellows will
have access to working spaces and receive world-class training, network and mentorship.
Entrepreneurs will be trained in product development, marketing strategy, business model
development, Market Value Proposition, etc. Successful clusters enter the Accelerator
program.
- Accelerator program: Successful clusters will receive seeding funding to
develop prototype
of their products They will receive intense training which includes, but not limited to;
Growth, product iteration and investor readiness Corporate structuring and governance
Intellectual Property assessment and strategy.
- Post-Accelerator: Successful clusters will receive support for market
expansion of
products and client acquisition.
What We Offer
- Selected applicants will form clusters to work on an industry base value chain product
- Selected applicants will work with research institutes and other experts to refine their
products and business models.
- Selected applicants will obtain market access and branding
support.
- Selected applicants will ride on the “Caravan” meta-brand to tap positive consumer
sentiment.
- Selected applicants will have access to high-level support network in private &
public sectors
- Selected applicants will have access to funding and mentoring support to
pilot and scale value chain products.
- All costs related to this program will be covered by Afrochampions Initiative and its
partners.
Timeline
Please apply before 3rd June 2020 11:59pm GMT.
To apply, click here.
Application Process Schedule
| Activity |
Date |
| Call for Application |
January 16 - June 3, 2020 |
| Application Review and Selection |
March 27, 2020 |
| First Caravan Summit + Team/Cluster Creation |
April 4, 2020 |
| Product/Business Pitches & Shortlisting |
May 4, 2020 |
| Product Development Coordination |
June 5, 2020 |
| Final Pitches + Funding/Support Announcement |
June 15, 2020 |
For more information, email Project Coordinator – ebenezer@credmap.com.
