The SNV GrEEn Project, being implemented for females by the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) Business Incubation Hub (U-Hub), Tarkwa, has been launched with a call on the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity.

The project was specifically designed to help recognize the shortfalls of women entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Eric Kavaarpuo, Coordinator for SNV GrEEn Project, said, “in our all-female Cohort three of the SNV GrEEn project, we decided to focus on women entrepreneurs so that we can really bring them up to a point where they can be used as examples to motivate other women entrepreneurs.”

He said their current focus was not only to process female businesses into formal strong businesses, but they hope to use women’s businesses as role models for their colleagues.

“Our special focus is to ensure that the business practices of these entrepreneurs conform with what we call the circular or green economy whereby no waste is generated,” Mr Kavaarpuo indicated.

According to the Coordinator, “Even if waste is generated at all it should return into usable forms and in that case, the environment will be restored and no damage will be caused.”

Mr Simon Asare, Manager, of the U-Hub, explained that “this is the third cohort and we pray someone would be able to raise GH￠ 95,000.00 at the end through the challenge fund, which is offered by the EU to address innovation risk.

In cohort two someone from Tarkwa got GH￠100,000.00 to support his agriculture business.”

He added that “We already have two people, who have also won GH￠175,000.00 and GH￠100,000.00 each prior to entering the programme. We are looking forward to the majority of our new incubators, being able to win the coming challenge fund.”

Mr Asare said, “our intention is to up their game, help them to actually utilize this to deliver on their core services and inspire others to be able to do the same”.

The core objective of the SNV green incubation programme is to build the capacity of green businesses that are in the sectors of agriculture, renewable energy, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to be able to become investor ready and also up their level of increasing jobs within the Tarkwa-Nusaem Municipality.

It is expected that at the end of the six-month incubation programme, each SME would be able to employ at least ten people.