'Support us as we invest in African entrepreneurs and enterprises' - GIBRIL FAAL, AFFORD CHAIR

Welcome to the SEEDA newsletter (See PDF below). SEEDA stands for Supporting Entrepreneurs and Enterprise Development in Africa.

Why SEEDA? Every year Africa needs to create 8 MILLION NEW JOBS just to absorb those coming onto the job market.  This is the number calculated by the Economic Commission for Africa.

Most of these jobs will come from an expansion of the informal, small and medium sized business sector and will be generated by skilled entrepreneurs. SEEDA is about supporting those entrepreneurs and businesses.

Over the coming months and years we will be bringing you news of the exciting developments taking place in this flagship programme of AFFORD, launched in 2006.

You will learn how we are making a difference to the lives of small traders and business people in Sierra Leone and Ghana, expanding their businesses, helping them put their issues on the agenda and creating much needed jobs that will lead to sustainable development.

Follow progress on the pilot business development centres we are establishing in Freetown and Bo in Sierra Leone.

Hear directly from the diaspora resource persons (RPs) who have shared their skills and money with business counterparts in Africa, as well as from Jessie Kenya, the SEEDA Project Officer.

Also learn the different ways you can help us expand SEEDA and our other work – through the AFFORD MILLION PLUS campaign. We are encouraging you to get involved either through direct giving, fundraising, or volunteering or time.

Gibril Faal, AFFORD Chairman