Hands in, not hand out: practical programmes that turn local raw materials, skills and partnerships into livelihoods across Africa and the Diaspora.
Since the Global Institute was first registered in Africa in 2017, its core entrepreneurship development programme has trained at least 10,000 entrepreneurs in about 35 African countries, with around 75% going on to start or grow a business. The projects below are a sample of what our country teams have delivered with communities, partners and investors.
Skills & ManufacturingOrientation, entrepreneur IQ and traits, business plans, grant writing and fundraising, sales and business financing — followed by practical production, microfinance, the Entrepreneurship Club and the Global Trade Hub.
Agribusiness & FoodPhased training from theory to practical production and sales, with microfinance for individual and community start-ups.
Skills & ManufacturingManufacturing of cosmetics, detergents and household cleaners, with entrepreneurship development, consulting and training services.
Skills & ManufacturingTeaching the concept of advancing with what you have: women and youth produce organic African black soap, shea and cocoa body butter, and avocado and aloe vera face wash and sunblock under the Kingslife label.
Skills & ManufacturingFinished products from the Institute's cosmetology studios, empowering local women and youth in the growing organic beauty industry.
A Kingslife-Global Institute label processing fruit smoothies, adding value to local produce.
Creative IndustriesSkills-based training for women and girls in rural Kenya, re-training traditional crafters to make demand-driven products, sold through the Institute's Hub shop in Kenya.
Creative IndustriesEmpowering marginalised artisans to live dignified, sustainable livelihoods, weaving baskets for global trade through AGOA and the AfCFTA.
Creative IndustriesAfter the outbreak of COVID-19, communities were re-trained to produce surgical and N95 masks and protective clothing, as well as bee suits, African designs and uniforms.
Agribusiness & FoodA 100-hive farm with honey extraction and storage. The Institute plans to replicate the project across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Fish processing skills for women and youth, and pond, boat and net making for men, promoting food security, nutrition and self-reliance.
An alternative rural livelihood and food security project in the agri-business sub-sector, turning cassava and its by-products into business.
Youth, Women & HealthMicrofinance for women entrepreneurs, launched with the AFC camp meeting in 2018.
Youth, Women & HealthOutreach to women, widows, orphans and vulnerable children as part of the Institute's W-OVC programme.
Youth, Women & HealthEntrepreneurship training at four Chicagoland locations in autumn 2019, ending with the Entrepreneurs' Graduation and Global Certificate Award Ceremony on 14 December 2019.
Youth, Women & HealthBringing young leaders together on leadership, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Youth, Women & HealthHome healthcare outreach and a medical mission linking US healthcare professionals with Nigerian communities.
Youth, Women & HealthExploring an e-library affiliation for Global Institute STEM programmes with the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Science and Technology.
Trade & InvestmentUS entrepreneurs and investors met the Lagos State Ministry of Education and private partners to close investment deals.
Trade & InvestmentDelegations from the USA, South Africa and across Nigeria met on trade, investment and entrepreneurship.
Trade & InvestmentWith keynote speaker Congressman Danny K. Davis, connecting US businesses with opportunities in Africa.
At the Point of No Return in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria — where the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the colonial amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria left their mark, and where women fought the colonisers in the Women's War — the Global Institute proposes to build a Diaspora Return City.
Since the Institute's first visit in December 2018, its leadership has explored the site with the Mayor and executive council of Ikot Abasi, who have welcomed the proposal. The plan is a fully functional, self-contained satellite city that reconnects the Diaspora with the continent through homes, tourism, enterprise and heritage.
Growth nodes for sustainable livelihoods, food security and self-reliance: centres where communities learn entrepreneurial skills and manufacture with local raw materials, open to trade partners, investors and donors.
Projects prepared with our country teams, supported by AfCFTA incentives and open to foreign direct investment.
Processing cashew fruit into a soft drink and tomatoes into a nutritious drink — adding value to African raw materials and keeping money on the continent.
Expansion of battery-cage poultry and table-egg production for local and regional markets.
Land acquisition, clearing, planting of the Tenera palm variety, fertiliser and monitoring through to oil processing.
Cultivation and processing of spices for local, AfCFTA and export markets.
Raw materials of interest include:
Global forums, trade missions and conferences that have connected the Diaspora and the continent.
The Global Institute is hatched in the International Studies Program at an American inner-city university.
Capacity-building for international public-private partnership investment, Chicago (16 December 2016).
The core entrepreneurship development programme begins rolling out across the continent.
Akwa Ibom, Nigeria (8–15 December), including the first visit to the Point of No Return, Ikot Abasi. Prof. Etukudo joins as Provost.
The first Chicago entrepreneurship cohort graduates; Congressman Danny K. Davis receives the Global Impact Award.
A World Trade Month briefing with Prosper Africa, EXIM Bank, USTDA and the AfDB, and the Annual Conference & Entrepreneurs Commencement in Ikot Ekpene.
The Annual Global Africa Education, Trade and Investment Conference in Lusaka (5–9 December).
Diaspora-Continental Africans Homecoming across Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (2–21 October).
Willis Tower, Chicago (17 August), following the Africa Day forum on AGOA and the AfCFTA.
Africa Sustainable Entrepreneurship Development and Job Creation, Accra (11 November).
Africa Diaspora-Continental Collaborations Conference, Moka (1–3 December). Register now →
More photos in our gallery.
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