A mentor can help you to make important decisions in your business and achieve specific goals. All of the mentors in the E-Coaching program have at least an MBA or the equivalent and five years of experience in business management or entrepreneurship. In addition to getting a mentor, program participants get access to online entrepreneurship training and networking opportunities with other young entrepreneurs.

We are now accepting applications from entrepreneurs under 35 years old who have their own business or are in the process of starting a business. There are two steps to apply:

1. Become a member of the YEN Marketplace community at http://yenmarketplace.org/user/register
2. Fill out an E-Coaching application at https://yenmarketplace.org/request-coach

If you have any questions about the E-Coaching program or how to apply, you can visit the website at http://yenmarketplace.org/e-coaching or feel free to contact us at info@aaeafrica.org. 

TELL PETYA –  YOUR OPINION ON THE E-COACHING INITIATIVE!

May 20, 2013

My name is Petya Yankova and I’m an intern with AAE. I will be writing monthly reports on the progress on the E-coaching initiative and I would kindly ask you to help me do that. If you have profited from the E-coaching and want to share your opinion on it, please get in touch by sending me an email. If you would like to recommend the progress of your mentee or praise the help and enthusiasm of your mentor, I would like to hear that. If you have achieved a significant progress in your work and want to share your pride and joy, I would like to hear that. Please send me any comments/news/ideas on petya.n.yankova@googlemail.com.

Kind regards & looking forward to hearing from you,
Petya Yankova

The post Free Business Coaching appeared first on Association of African Entrepreneurs.

Raimi, L. MNIM
Member Support Volunteer (MSV), AAE Nigeria
Centre Entrepreneurship Development (CED),
Yaba College of Technology, Yaba-Lagos, Nigeria
P.O. Box 164 Unilag Post Office Akoka, Lagos
Tel: +234 802 306 2555
Email: Lukman.raimi@aaeafrica.org

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Member Support Volunteers (MSVs) are experts in charge of promoting and providing support for local members/entrepreneurs and co-ordinating development activities. AAE and MSVs identify the basic services, and any agreed upon optional services, to be provided locally by the MSV.

Since 2004, AAE has successfully delivered entrepreneurial support in the areas of capacity building, advocacy, information sharing and networking support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We are expanding activities across Africa and are seeking highly motivated volunteers to help provide local support to entrepreneurs to establish sustainable businesses.

In order to get considered for this position, applicants are asked to
provide a resume and a Summary Action Plan and outlining how they would like to promote the association in their country.

AAE provides a guiding role, supervision and organizational support,
and training. Funding and material logistics may be provided where
available. This opportunity is non-monetary however there would be reimbursement for approved expenses.

Typically, the volunteer must have experience in Business Development, Marketing, Translation, Communication and Social Media skills is desired.  Preferred knowledge of the media and academic sector. Areas of expertise in Business administration, Journalism and information.

Minimum commitment is one year at up to 5 hours a week.  Tenure renewal is due in three years. We would like successful volunteers to work with us indefinitely as long as possible.

AAE provides a guiding role, supervision and organizational support,
and training. Funding and material logistics may be provided where
available.

Volunteers will have access to AAE organized regular training and
information, and support resources as well as forums and meetings for
sharing of experiences and best practice.

For any questions please contact us, info@aaeafrica.org or visit http://www.aaeafrica.org/home/we-are-seeking-member-support-volunteers

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• Explode myths and offer a panoramic glimpse at reality
• Offer explorations of the business and entrepreneurial climate in African nations
• Dedicate considerable information to the new entrepreneur and investor in Africa’s nations through business

AAE is now calling for contributions for this project from our members, the visitors to our website, supporters and patrons. Authors are welcome to submit articles directly through our website, or, to email them to our editors. Though the former is preferred and encouraged, it is not compulsory. Authors are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Articles should not be more than 3,000 words in length with suitable headings
2. Plagiarism should be avoided at all costs, and all references should be mentioned by using footnotes, cited plainly without any mode of citation.
3. A detailed bibliography must be provided at the end of the article submitted, breaking up the references into Books, Articles, News items, Legislations and Judicial decisions and other references.
4. Articles should compulsorily focus on Africa, though comparisons with other parts of the world will be welcome.
5. If an author decides to submit the article through our website, they would need to create a user account to do this. Please sign up at this link to create your own user account.

AAE reserves the right to decide whether or not to publish an article submitted to us. Authors will be duly acknowledged if their articles are selected for publication. These articles become the exclusive property of AAE, though authors will be considered the original creators of the work and duly credited.

Please contact Kirthi, jayakumar.kirthi@gmail.com for any questions or visit our articles page.

The post Call for analytic articles on Africa’s Business Environment appeared first on Association of African Entrepreneurs.

The Association of African Entrepreneurs (AAE) placed a call to its clients and stakeholders for submissions on the ECOSOC HLS Annual Ministerial Review theme via its newsletter, social media and forums.

From Babagana Abubakar in Nigeria, the AAE received feedback concerning astronomy and meteorology. Many components (the stars, moon, lightning and thunder, for example) are viewed as sacred or as gods by approximately 25% of the African population, and therefore not science-based. As well, the use of these components in astrology and fortune-telling also deter both Muslims and Christians from studying space sciences and meteorology. These views and beliefs have lead to the underdevelopment of these sciences across the continent.

This paper suggests four key solutions:
-Major stakeholders such as UNOOSA and NASA, among others, should sponsor public conferences, workshops and programs.
-Religious scholars should be included in capacity-building programs and training
-NASA and other space science organizations should open offices and training institutes in Africa
-International space organizations should provide financial scholarships

David Rugamba Muhizi from Rwanda focused on “broadband for an inclusive digital society”. He identified specific examples of progress being made in this area. Specifically, information and communication technologies have lead to e-health solutions such as Onehealth, which has seen incredible increases in both quality and access to healthcare. Improvements in maternal health have been noted as a result of these technologies.

In order to promote gender equality and empower women, programs such as the AAE’s E-Coaching Centre in Ghana, are helping women and young entrepreneurs access relevant support to start their businesses. This is another example of how technology and innovation are being used to facilitate access to learning, thereby helping women and youth in the community become more prosperous, and therefore healthier and more educated.

Two other submissions from the AAE contained several interesting, broad ways that science, innovation, technology and the potential of culture promote sustainable development and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

For instance, technology, innovation and a shift in cultural beliefs are key to addressing the achievement of universal primary education for Africans. Apart from increasing the number of computers in schools and connecting rural areas to internet access, further sponsorship from science and technology institutions will continue to ensure this fundamental goal is reached, as well as lead young people to science-based careers and open science-based businesses.

As well, agriculturalists and their research and development teams can propel communities forward with long-lasting ideas, thus contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. Many communities must utilize innovative agriculture methods to take advantage of the Africa’s vast resources.

Science, technology and innovation, however, should not be seen as a means to an end – these components supplement Africa’s two greatest resources – the people and the land. Keeping the unique cultures across the continent in mind, as well as the immense value and importance of sustainable development, is key to achieving the MDGs and therefore key to Africa’s future generations.

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