Sierra Leone

<p>This 3.5-day in-person event brings together ecosystem innovation hubs in Sierra Leone for a collaborative learning and capacity-building workshop.</p><p>The event will begin with the presentation of the Analysis of the Sierra Leone Entrepreneurship Support Ecosystem, offering participants data-driven insights into the current landscape of support for entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone. The session will present key findings from the report, including identified challenges, opportunities for enhanced collaboration, and actionable recommendations informed by best practices.</p><p>The following days will focus on putting one of the report’s key recommendations into action: strengthening the business modelling and financial readiness of entrepreneurship support hubs.</p><p>Through hands-on, interactive training, participants will explore strategic service design, stakeholder mapping, business model development, monetization strategies, and proposal writing. Hubs will work on refining their own service offerings, value propositions, and fundraising approaches—receiving peer and expert feedback throughout. The training will conclude with a practical session on proposal development and pitching, supporting participants in turning insights into concrete next steps.</p>

<p><strong>READY-Salone: Unlocking Sierra Leone’s Digital Potential</strong></p><p>Are you ready to create lasting change in your community and contribute to Sierra Leone’s growing digital economy? The <strong>International Trade Centre (ITC)</strong> — a joint agency of the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations — in partnership with the <strong>Government of Sierra Leone</strong>, invites young, driven leaders to join the <strong>READY-Salone</strong> project!</p><p>This transformative initiative is designed to unlock economic opportunities for Sierra Leonean youth and youth-led businesses in the digital economy. By focusing on digital skills development—particularly for young women—READY-Salone collaborates with business support organizations, tech hubs, financial institutions, and policymakers to create pathways to jobs and market opportunities.</p><p>A key component of the project is the establishment of a network of e-commerce advisors and strategic collaborations with local and international partners to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills needed to leverage digital tools for e-commerce success. Specifically, the project will train 20 e-commerce advisors and 100 youth-led businesses in digital marketing, customer acquisition, and online market access. The first phase of the training of trainers will be conducted in Freetown in May 2025.</p><p>As a Trainer, you will play a key role in empowering young entrepreneurs, helping them succeed in e-commerce through digital tools and strategies. You will also become part of a growing network of e-commerce advisors, working with both local and international partners to foster business growth in Sierra Leone.</p><p>If you’re a motivated young individual with a background in digital fields, live in the <strong>Western Area Urban District</strong>, and are passionate about making a difference, we encourage you to apply!</p><p><strong>What will you gain during this Training of Trainers (ToT)?</strong></p><p>In just seven days, you will gain practical skills to support businesses in thriving in the digital economy, including:</p><ul><li>Mastering <strong>ITC’s ecomConnect Methodology</strong></li><li>Developing <strong>E-commerce Strategies</strong> for small businesses</li><li>Creating impactful <strong>content for e-commerce</strong></li><li>Leveraging <strong>digital marketing and social media</strong> tools</li><li>Exploring <strong>AI tools for e-commerce success</strong></li></ul><p><strong>What is the selection process?</strong></p><ul><li>Your application will be assessed by ITC experts. All application details will be treated with STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY.</li><li>Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a brief interview.</li><li>Selected participants will join a 7-day training in Freetown in May 2025.</li><li>Following the training, the top-performing participants will be recruited to work with businesses in the Western Area Urban District.</li></ul><p>Please note: ITC will handle the entire selection process. Partner organizations involved in promoting this opportunity will not participate in the selection.</p><p>This opportunity is free of charge—all you need is passion, commitment, and the drive to learn and grow!</p><p>Don’t wait—apply today and take your first step toward shaping the future of Sierra Leone’s digital economy.</p><p><strong>Register before 4 April 2024.</strong></p><p>If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].</p>