When the A-LEAP programme was initiated in Ghana in early 2017, IWAD found synergy between the programme’s objectives and IWAD’s planned work placement initiative for the youth.
The A-LEAP programme aims to provide opportunities for African youth aged 18-35 to gain practical experience and knowledge in the agricultural sector. The broad goal is to support skills transfer and technological know-how that will help African agribusinesses and organizations to innovate, improve their commercial viability and catalyze agricultural transformation, thus contributing to improved food security.
The program objectives are to:
- enhance the professional development of youth interested in agribusiness and
agricultural development through training and on-the-job-learning.
- improve the viability and performance of host organizations and;
- strengthen tertiary institutions’ promotion of careers in agribusiness and agricultural
development.
IWAD agreed to host five interns who will carry out specific tasks to support different areas of the company’s operations: seed production monitoring, accounting, set up of a Community Information Centre, Irrigation technical support and development of a strategy for commercialization of new seed products.
The interns are being sponsored under a cost-share arrangement with Africa Lead and started their internship in July 2017. Africa Lead also provided coaching and an orientation training for interns to prepare them to enter the workforce with professionalism. The internship period will be 3months with the possibility of a full time job placement for exceptional performance.