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On the 12th of August the Road to Nairobi-bustour was launched and Get in the Ring is part of it! In some African countries, the youth unemployment rate is as high as 50%, so there is an urgent need for action. Fostering youth entrepreneurship is one of the solutions to combat youth unemployment. Road to Nairobi aims to connect young entrepreneurs with local changemakers, to identify challenges and opportunities related to youth employment in eight African countries.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The idea is simple: a bus filled with European and African youth is taking the road from Johannesburg to Nairobi. Along the way, there will be a series of events where in each country. At every event, 10 entrepreneurs will pitch their business, connected to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results of the trip will be presented at the High Level Meeting (HLM2). This event will be attended by high-level policy makers and CEOs from over the world. The best 4 startups out of the bustour will pitch their initiatives during a Get in the Ring-event
THE GOAL OF ROAD TO NAIROBI
The Road to Nairobi is building up to the HLM2 of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC) in Nairobi from November 28 to December 1st. GPEDC aims to facilitate more effective cooperation between nations, businesses and organizations, with the final goal to contribute to the SDGs. Road to Nairobi is part of ‘economic empowerment of women and youth’ – one of the seven themes of the HLM2. With connecting youth entrepreneurs to local changemakers, high-level policymakers and corporate leaders, startups can both inspire them to become change agents and collaborate together to scale-up.
DRIVING IMPACT TOGETHER
The Road to Nairobi is launched by the Building Bridges Foundation, with support from Lilianne Ploumen, co-Chair of the Global Partnership and Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. We are proud to be involved in connecting young innovative entrepreneurs in Africa to a network of high-profile policy makers, investors and corporate innovators attending the HLM2.
GET IN THE RING NAIROBI
The Road to Nairobi is not the only way for startups to participate in the HLM2. During the Global Entrepreneurship Week in November, Junior Achievement Kenya will organize Get in the Ring Nairobi. Out of the participating startups in this event, 2 startups will get selected to pitch at the HLM2. A great opportunity to connect with an international audience of policymakers, investors and innovators attending.
JOIN
Are you an impact startup that is working within one of the themes of the SDGs? Do you want to pitch in front of high-level policy makers, Ministers, investors and innovators? Can you inspire local ambassadors for them to be change agents in their own community? Apply for Get in the Ring Nairobi to get training, battle for a chance to pitch at HLM2 and win a ticket for the Global Final.
Follow the bus on its Road to Nairobi via Twitter (#RTNB2016) or on the website.