Ghana Enterprises Agency, through which the government of Ghana supports micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, recently partnered with the Canada-based Mastercard Foundation in an effort to support 250,000 young people in acquiring “dignified and fulfilling jobs.” Among the goals of the project is to serve 25,000 people with disabilities and 175,000 women. The program is called Business in a Box - or BizBox - and includes training in life skills and business skills along with access to technology, finance, markets and networking opportunities. The program has a local-currency budget equivalent to USD 55 million and runs until 2027.

CERISE+SPTF, a partnership of two NGOs, is now offering a pair of three-hour, self-paced online training sessions at no cost. One is focused on protecting the clients of financial services providers, and the other covers the measurement and management of the social and environmental performance of FSPs. CERISE+SPTF also offers longer follow-up courses on both topics for purchase beginning at the equivalent of USD 870. This coursework can lead participants to become certified to audit FSPs on both topics. In addition to hosting trainings, the NGOs convene working groups, set standards and work with individual FSPs to document their achievements and improve their practices. The goals of CERISE and SPTF are to help FSPs and their partners “achieve their social and environmental strategies.”