Introduction
GAP for Africa is a comprehensive initiative designed to build the basic ecosystem and infrastructure necessary to develop 1 million viable, scalable, and enduring African businesses. Below we outline the strategic goals, target stakeholders, implementation plan, and budget breakdown to achieve these objectives.
Headline Goals
- Create a Pan-African Multi-Step Shares Market for Startups and Small Businesses in partnership with a global exchange
- Objective: Establish the Africa Diaspora SME Growth Market to facilitate capital access and growth opportunities for African startups and small businesses.
- Activities:
- Develop the regulatory framework and governance structure.
- Design and launch the trading platform.
- Conduct outreach and education campaigns to attract participants.
- Collaborate with 100 Universities to Create African Business Ecosystem Programs
- Objective: Develop scholarship programs for young African entrepreneurs to foster the creation of 1 million viable, scalable, and enduring businesses.
- Activities:
- Form partnerships with 100 universities across the world.
- Develop entrepreneurial curricula and programs.
- Establish scholarship funds and selection criteria.
- Employment Initiative for Young Africans
- Objective: Support the employment of 100,000 young Africans in startups and small businesses across 10 African countries by providing employment benefits.
- Activities:
- Create a job placement platform for African small businesses.
- Develop requisite training and development programs.
- Partner with businesses to identify employment benefits that can be sponsored to help recruitment and job satisfaction.
- Support for a QR and Ecommerce Network Platform
- Objective: Develop and grow an ecommerce platform offering free delivery, subsidized basic products, ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes, and cashback deals to support African businesses.
- Activities:
- Design and launch the ecommerce platform.
- Establish partnerships with logistics and product suppliers.
- Implement financial schemes and cashback programs.
- Subsidized Industrial Products & Services Market
- Objective: Create a market to provide subsidized industrial products and services to 1 million businesses under the program.
- Activities:
- Develop a procurement and distribution system.
- Partner with industrial product manufacturers and service providers.
- Manage subsidy programs.
- Government and Partner Collaboration
- Objective: Work with governments and partners in 10 African countries to develop support programs aimed at creating 100,000 viable, scalable, and enduring businesses in each country.
- Activities:
- Develop targeted support programs.
- Facilitate policy development and implementation.
- Conduct workshops and engagement sessions with stakeholders.
Target Stakeholders
- Universities: 100 universities across the world to integrate entrepreneurial programs and scholarships for African entrepreneurs.
- Venture Capital Firms: Engage firms to pledge funds to invest in African startups and small businesses on the Africa Diaspora SME Growth Market.
- Grant and Aid Organizations: Secure funding and support from international grant and aid organizations for the various programs.
- Major Consumer Manufacturing Companies: Collaborate to provide subsidized products and support.
- Major Industrial Products Manufacturing Companies: Partner to supply industrial products at subsidized rates.
- Major Services Companies: Partner to provide services at subsidized rates.
- Major Global Stock Exchanges: Create linkages to facilitate investment in African businesses.
- Governments: Work with governments to develop policies and programs that support business growth.
- Multilateral Institutions: Partner to provide financial and technical support.
- Groups & Associations: Engage various groups and associations to support the program’s goals.
- Diaspora: Engage the African Diaspora to contribute to the development of businesses in Africa.
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