YESDRC Network Presentation Jules RAMAZANI YESDRC NETWORK COORDINATOR

YES-DRC Network Presentation

Jules RAMAZANI YES-DRC NETWORK COORDINATOR Youth Entrepreneurship Promotion Program in DR CONGO VERACRUZ, October 4 th YES MEXICO SUMMIT 2004

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

• Project Goals: Ø Promote youth entrepreneurship; and Ø Develop entrepreneurial culture amongst young people. • Project Design Principles: Ø Observation; Ø Reflection; Ø Vision; Ø Inspiration; and Ø Action. • Project Duration: Ø 2 Years (2002 -2004) • Project Inputs: Ø Material resources; Ø Financial resources; and Ø Human resources.

Project Cycle • Conceptualization Ø The Program was conceptualized and implemented in the first stage in Kinshasa (Capital city of DRC) by APEC – NGO [www. webafrica. org/apec] Team. Ø 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 implementing and supporting: - Student Entrepreneurs Clubs in the Universities and High Schools – Entrepreneurship in School - Young Entrepreneurs Clubs in the local areas – Young Mentorship Pilot Project.

The Results are: • Numbers of persons reached by the activities Ø Student Entrepreneurs Club project: - 55 students: 19 -25 Years old - 45 males and 10 females Ø Young Entrepreneurs Club project, Mentorship Pilot project: - 10 Mentors: 7 males and 3 females - 10 Protégés: 9 males and 1 female

• Response from Community The beneficiaries of the program are: - Young students in universities and high schools; - Young entrepreneurs; and - Others unemployed young people. • YES Framework for Action: – The YES-DRC Network favors youth entrepreneurship promotion as a effective strategy to fight against poverty and youth unemployment in DR Congo.

• Plans for the Future - To strengthen, reinforce and consolidate the - current actions; To develop new projects in environmental entrepreneurship: biodiversity and renewable energies areas; To develop partnership with International organizations, the private sector and other donors; To extend the YES-DRC Network activities in nationwide (in all country provinces).

Challenges and Lessons Learned • Problems Faced Since 2002 YES-DRC Network is working in a very tough situation because of the following facts: - Political instability: four Years of war and rebellions; - Bad governance; - Lack of a National Employment Policy; - Lack of a National Youth Policy;

- Economic crisis; - Cultural obstacles among young - people and at the community level in creating new initiatives (especially in terms of entrepreneurship); and Youth poverty.

• New knowledge - We understand that to succeed in our - work we must build strong partnerships with many stakeholders (Government, Educational Institutions, Medias, International Organizations, Financial Institutions and other donors). YES-DRC Network must be professional to be competitive nationally and internationally. Thank you for your attention!