Entrepreneurship Exchange Series: Session 1

The Role of Young Entrepreneurs to Fuel Sustainable Enterprises in Africa.

Climate change has become a major global issue. Africa, as one of the continents most affected by the impacts of climate change, is in a crucial position to address these challenges while young entrepreneurs from Africa have emerged as key players in promoting sustainable initiatives.

Join the session to discover how young entrepreneurs are shaping Africa’s sustainable future, driving innovation and economic growth while preserving our planet. This exchange session will also foster collaboration, innovation, and intergenerational ideation among youth movements and stakeholders on national, regional, and global levels to ultimately co-create sustainable solutions.

Join us on June 6 at 2 PM BST / 3 PM CAT & 9 AM EDT

Objective of the session:

  • Access to valuable mentorships, partnerships, and collaboration opportunities for young entrepreneurs in the green economy.
  • Impact of climate change on youth employment in the informal sector, particularly in agriculture.
  • Market competition and strategies for young entrepreneurs to penetrate competitive markets through resource pooling, incubators, and accelerators.
  • Navigating legal requirements, compliance, and licensing can add costs to green ventures, highlighting the importance of supportive policy environments and access to capital.

Moderator of the session:

Mafunda Kombo Faki

Mafunda Kombo Faki is a dynamic leader in the tourism industry, known for her focus on youth empowerment and sustainable development. With a Bachelor’s in International Relations and Diplomacy and a Master’s in Tourism Management, she brings a unique expertise to her role as Founder and Managing Director of Zanvacay Partnership. As the African Tourism Board Youth Ambassador and Former East African Community Youth Ambassador to Tanzania, Mafunda advocates for youth inclusion in tourism initiatives. She coordinated the Zanzibar International Youth Tourism Summit in 2023 and is the Program Director for the 2024 edition. Engaged in sustainable development dialogues, Mafunda is the President of Tanzanians at the East African Association of Near East University and a member of the Common Future Conversation under Chatham House in London. Mafunda’s vision for transformative change in tourism focuses on community engagement, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation. Through Zanvacay Partnership, she creates meaningful tourism experiences while ensuring local community and ecosystem prosperity.

Speakers of the session:

Haja Mariama Bangura

Haja Mariama Bangura is a dedicated young professional focusing on youth and adolescent girl empowerment. Her passion lies in advocating for young people, particularly girls and women deprived of basic human rights and sexual education, which has been the cornerstone of her career.
Haja started her journey as a Child Advocate at Sierra Leone’s Children Forum Network (CFN), where she worked to raise awareness about girls’ rights and responsibilities. She strongly believes in the significant role that women and girls play in a nation’s development. This commitment led her to co-found Girls Connect Sierra Leone. On this platform, she continues her relentless efforts to inspire and empower the youth, thereby contributing to a brighter future for Sierra Leone.

Hawa Sindika

Hawa Sindika graduated from St. Augustine University of Tanzania with an advanced diploma in Accountancy in 2013. After completing her studies, she had the opportunity to volunteer with Restless Development, an international organization. In their International Citizen Services project, she trained university students to write effective CVs and cover letters and answer interview questions. Her experiences and skills from Restless Development led her to work with the International Labour Organization as a business coaching trainer. She became certified there and worked with various international and national organizations, providing business consulting and training on generating ideas, starting a business, and improving existing businesses. Additionally, she is certified by the International Youth Foundation as a youth life skills trainer. She has trained over 1000 youths across different regions in Tanzania.

Maria Malomalo

Maria Malomalo is a pan-African feminist who is passionate about participatory action research, focusing on women’s rights, youth development and leadership, adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights, and climate change.Maria holds a Master of Philosophy in human rights: sexual and reproductive rights in Africa and is the Senior International Research Manager for Restless Development, where she leads youth engagement and research. She is also the founder of Mwana Pwo, the first Angolan NGO working in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health.

Haroune O. Sidatt

Haroune O. Sidatt, a senior private sector development specialist and socio-economic inclusion expert, has over 15 years of experience in African development. He studied in the United States, holds degrees in business and human resources management, and worked in management roles for private sector companies in the US and Mauritania. Passionate about youth inclusion, he designed and led various youth entrepreneurship and employment projects. Mr. Sidatt has worked across the continent, including Mali, Togo, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, and Morocco. His expertise extends to vulnerable groups’ participation and positive development approaches. He is multilingual (French, Arabic, English, and Spanish) and has contributed to research and lectures in sub-Saharan Africa.

Break out Rooms Moderators:

Musonda Mulenga

Musonda Mulenga is a renowned international development professional and social behavioural change specialist dedicated to empowering youth and promoting community-led solutions through social accountability and advocacy efforts. He drives sustainable solutions for education, livelihoods, gender, and health outcomes, promoting a more just and equitable world.

John Oluwafemi Olla

John Oluwafemi Olla, a seasoned development consultant, has over 10 years of experience in strategic communication, media relations, SBCC (Social and Behavior Change Communication), and project management. He holds a Master’s degree in Information Science and a Postgraduate Certificate in Project Management & Entrepreneurship from the University of Ibadan, complemented by various professional certifications. Throughout his career, John has collaborated with prominent organizations such as the World Bank, UNFPA, and UNICEF. His roles have spanned from Communication Consultant to Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. His expertise extends to digital and social media marketing, stakeholder engagement, and crisis management. John’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. He received the Youth Advocate of the Year Award from the National Youth Council of Nigeria and emerged as the winner of the 2021 Fate Foundation/Facebook Pitch Competition. He actively participates in professional networks, including the West Africa Network for Peace building and the Internet Society.

Joshua Musolo

Joshua Musolo, a Zambian youth and activist residing in Kabwe, contributes his time to content production at KNC radio for Ishiwi, a democracy and governance initiative. He has volunteered and collaborated with various youth-led organizations like Restless Development, The Center For Young Leaders in Africa, and Ubutungwa Youth Organisation. Joshua is nearing the completion of his Business Administration degree at Kwame Nkrumah University and aspires to work for an international organization fostering democracy, sustainable development, and youth empowerment.