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The Canadian government, in partnership with Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) and the Bauchi state government, has collaborated on a five-year initiative called Women’s Empowerment and Youth Entrepreneurship (WAY).
This initiative received funding totaling $15 million from the Canadian government, with an additional $1.1 million contributed by MEDA and the Bauchi state government, bringing the total to over $16 million.
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The WAY initiative aimed to enhance the performance of small businesses (MSMEs) and create a conducive environment for businesses led by women and youth. It concluded after a seven-year duration and made significant contributions to the socioeconomic development of Bauchi state.
The initiative supported over 9,000 agro-processing technologies, focused on boosting businesses led by women and youth, and facilitated inter-community trade in value-chain goods such as rice, beans, soybeans, groundnuts, and oils. It covered seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bauchi State, generating over ₦700 million from 590 saving groups over three years, which was reinvested in their enterprises.
The WAY initiative impacted 17,861 individuals and businesses, resulting in the creation and sustenance of 79 jobs. Additionally, MEDA’s overall impact across the seven LGAs included mobilizing over N1 billion in savings by rural women and youth-led businesses from 443 communities. The collaboration also addressed environmental concerns, with the planting of 9,500 trees and training over 100 youth in seedling production to combat drought and desertification.
