Through the training programs provided by Reach for Change, we empower social entrepreneurs with hands-on practical entrepreneurial knowledge and technical support to help them develop, refine, and test a business idea, and gain access to finance. We especially target women and youth, because their capacity for innovation and job creation has historically been underutilized. Economic empowerment of these individuals also has the potential to have positive ripple effects across their families and wider communities. 

The Wolrd Bank initiative in Ethiopia

In 2023, Reach for Change implemented an initiative together with the Gender, Innovation and Learning team at the World Bank to assess the impact of different approaches supporting female entrepreneurs in Ethiopia. The study compared the success rate of e-learning platforms versus in-person training in developing the skills of female business owners.

Reach for Change provided in-person classroom training for 401 women based on adapted online training materials, including pre- and post-training assessments. 

Key learnings and outcomes: 

• Out of the 401 women who were available and willing to participate, 374 (93%) completed the training successfully.
• A total of 315 responded to the pre-training assessment, and 329 responded to the post-training assessment.
• 98% of the participants responded that they learned something new that could be applied to their business.
• 98% of the participants were likely to recommend the training to others.

European Project on Gender Mainstreaming

Reach for Change further worked to gender mainstream entrepreneurial support structures and improve the quality of training and support for female social entrepreneurs in Europe. This project, led by PULSE (Groupe SOS) and funded by Erasmus+, was delivered through partnerships in Bulgaria, Greece, France, and Cyprus. It aimed to encourage more women to develop sustainable entrepreneurial projects by integrating women’s needs through a gender-sensitive approach.

Achievements by December 2023

1. Method Development: A method for entrepreneurship support organizations to integrate gender equality issues internally was developed, adapted, and tested by partners in Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, and Greece before European dissemination.
2. Training Tools: New tools were developed to increase staff skills and better train and support women entrepreneurs, tested and updated by partners, and further disseminated at the European level.
3. Interactive Guide: An interactive guide, including a self-assessment tool and ten recommendations on gender mainstreaming, was developed and disseminated at the European level. It can be found on the project's website. 

Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Ghana

In Ghana, Reach for Change worked to achieve a more inclusive entrepreneurship sector through the implementation of an "Empower All" bootcamp together with Fidelity Bank. This initiative addressed the underexplored career path of entrepreneurship among young women, especially those in the informal sector and with disabilities.

Bootcamp Highlights

• Participants: 53 entrepreneurs with disabilities, or with close family members with disabilities, were trained over four days, with 75% female and 25% male.
• Outcomes: 98% achieved a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship and essential business skills. The number of participants proficient in various business areas increased from 6% at the start to 73% after completion.