YES-DRC Network Presentation

By Jules RAMAZANI YES-DRC NETWORK COORDINATOR Title of Presentation : Youth Entrepreneurship Promotion Programme in DRC MEXICO October 2004

Description of Project Target Group: Target Group:  Young people under 40 years old. Rationale for Intervention: Rationale for Intervention:  Inadequacy between educational system and labour market needs;  Lack of entrepreneurial culture (no creativity, no initiative) among young people;  High rate (90%) of youth unemployment; and  Lack of technical and financial support.

Project Goals: Project Goals:  Promote youth entrepreneurship; and  Develop entrepreneurial culture among Young people. Project Design Principles: Project Design Principles:  Observation;  Reflection;  Vision;  Inspiration;  Action. Project Duration: Project Duration:  2 Years ( ) Project Inputs: Project Inputs:  Material resources;  Financial resources; and  Human resources.

Project Cycle Conceptualization Conceptualization  The Programme was conceptualized and implemented in the first stage in Kinshasa (Capital city of DRC) by APEC – NGO [ africa.org/apec] Team.  We are collaborating with:  ACEE of Quebec: technical support;

 Paul Fortin, President of Accès Entreprise, Quebec: technical support.  Youth Development Network (YDN), South Africa: Technical and financial support.  Ministry of Industry & SMEs: Moral support;  Ministry of Youth and sports: Moral and material support; and  FEC (Federation of Enterprises of Congo): moral and material support.  Implementation: Our Methodology consists in implanting and animating: - Student Entrepreneurs Clubs in the Universities and High Schools – Entrepreneurship in School; - Young Entrepreneurs Clubs in the local areas – Young Mentorship pilot project.

What are the results ? Numbers of persons reached by the activities Numbers of persons reached by the activities  Student Entrepreneurs Club project: - 55 Students: Years old - 45 Males and 10 Females  Young Entrepreneurs Club project, Mentorship Pilot project: -10 Mentors: 7 Males and 3 Females -10 Protégés: 9 Males and 1 female

Response from Community Response from Community The beneficiaries of the programme are: - Young students in Universities and High schools; - Young entrepreneurs; and - Others young people unemployed. YES Framework for Action YES Framework for Action YES-DRC Network favour youth entrepreneurship promotion as a effective strategy to fight poverty and youth unemployment in DR Congo.

Plans for the future Plans for the future - To strengthen (to reinforce) and consolidate the current actions; - To develop new projects in the Biodiversity and renewable energies areas; - To develop partnership with the international organizations, other donors, private sector; - To extend the YES-DRC Network activities in nation-wide (in all country provinces).

Challenges and lessons learnt Problems Faced Problems Faced Since 2002 YES-DRC Network is working in a very tough situation because of the facts below: - Political instability: 4 years of war and rebellions; - Bad governence; - Lack of National Employment policy; - Lack of National Youth Ploicy;

- Economic crisis; - Cultural Obstacles among young people and in the community level facing the new inititiatives development, especially in entrepreneurship area; - Youth Poverty. New knowledge New knowledge - We understand that to succeed in our work we must build strengthen partnerships with many stakeholders (Government, Education institutions, Medias, International organizations, financial institutions and other donors). - YES-DRC Network must be professionnal to be competitive in the national and world-wide level. Thank you for your attention!