http://www.fao.org/rural-employment/en/ Presentations delivered on the 7th of September 2015 in Barbados, during the launch of the new FAO project “Strengthening decent rural employment opportunities for young women and men in the Caribbean”, developed in collaboration with the IFAD. The project will operate for 3 years in 9 countries of the Sub-region, namely: St. Lucia, Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Haiti, Belize, Cuba and Dominican Republic. The programme is an example of effective inter-agency cooperation and aims to promote rural youth employment opportunities in the Caribbean by facilitating the development of targeted policies, partnerships and investments. The project will be implemented by the FAO Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean, in Barbados. The presentations show the perspectives and contributions of the different partners involved in the project. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. LAUNCH AND POLICY DIALOGUE
REGIONAL FAO-IFAD Project
STRENGHENING DECENT RURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN IN THE CARIBBEAN
7 - 9 September 2015
Bridgetown, Barbados
Project Presentation
Mr. Fransen Jean
FAO Sub –Regional Office for the Caribbean

2. The Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) is a nonprofit organization that
works in cooperation with international organizations, development agencies
and Governments to advance youth development around the world.
Promoting and implementing programs focused on youth entrepreneurship
and empowerment as tools to generate greater economic opportunities for
young people and their communities.
What is YABT?

3. Youth Empowerment,
Leadership and Participation
YABT also creates platforms for youth participation
in policy dialogues and events at the highest
levels: i.e. Summits of the Americas and World
Bank / IMF Annual Meetings.

5. Flagship Event: A High-Level Panel at the Annual Meetings will feature:
- President of the World Bank: Dr. Jim Kim
- Vice Presidents of LAC Region and IFC
- CEO of a Global Company
- A Celebrity
But most importantly…

6. Young Entrepreneurs

7. Realities:
Ages 15 to 29
- Higher unemployment rates
- Lower salaries
- Little improvement projected
Also, on average
- Get married and start families
later in life
- Higher education levels
- Better-than-ever access, and
knowledge of, ICTs
(UNFPA Annual Report 2011)

8. YABT Business Model
1. Youth Participation in Policy Dialogues - from the youth
perspective.
2. Support Systems for Young Entrepreneurs –NexLinks:
collaborative partnerships, Learning Networks and CoPs.
3. Skills Development – Business Labs ToT (Agri-Business, Creative
Enterprises, Rural Tourism, InnovAction, etc.); Min B Labs: from
idea to start-up! and the BOOT Camp
4. Innovation Competitions:
TIC Americas
Eco Challenge
Caribbean Innovation Challenge - Video

9. The Business Labs
YABT’s first programme
1. Launched in the Caribbean in 2002
2. Now in 35+ Countries in Four Laguages
3. 12 ToT in the Americas plus two courses in Haifa per year
4. Multiple replicas – easy to adapt
5. First Ever B Lab in the US by a Caribbean National
6. Agri-Business, Creative Enterprises, Rural Tourism, InnovAction,
7. Adaptations: Mini B Labs: from idea to start-up! |BOOT Camp

10. The Caribbean Innovation Challenge
The Caribbean Innovation Challenge is an
international competition and start-up
accelerator program for entrepreneurs.
The CIC promotes innovation and the
development of entrepreneurial initiatives
tapping on the potential of young people’s
creativity and energy to generate ideas
that benefit their societies and
communities.
The Caribbean Innovation Challenge
originally launched as part of UNDP Youth-
IN Programme.
Video

12. The Talent and Innovation Competition of the
Americas (TIC Americas)
Is a platform of opportunities available to all young
entrepreneurs in the Americas to create and strengthen their
business ideas. It is a competition that goes beyond the
development of business plans to incorporate before and
follow-up stages, mentorship, international visibility and
incubation, among other benefits.

13. Preparation
and selection
• Virtual Training
• Deliverables
• Evaluations
• Announcement of
finalists
Finals and Expo
• Conferences and
panels
• International
Visibility
• Seed Capital
• Investment
Opportunities
Follow up
• Global Platforms
• Best practices
• “Giving-back”
Phases

14. Award
Package:
+ 5,000 USD
Seed Capital
Finalists:
Full Evaluation Report
by three judges from on-
line semi-finals with
specifics on
improvement areas
Winners:
$5.000 USD seed capital
One year follow up
services
Alumni Network
Further opportunities
Access to Investment

16. What have we learned?
• Competition spurs innovation
• Create solid collaboration networks for learning and exchange
• Access to international markets
• Visibility and additional resources
• Tap in he potential of young people to innovate
Before:
• Training and access to resources
• Mentoring
• Deadlines and milestones
• Deliverables set direction
After:
• Participation in other international competitions
• Access to potential investors
• Services and follow up activities

17. Solid collaborative networks:
- Governments
- NGOs
- Community Centers
- Incubators
- Chambers of Commerce
- Private Sector
Organizations
- Youth Organizations and
Associations
- Young Leaders Networks

18. Key Support
Expert Advice
+350 business development experts
from around the world serve as
judges, mentors or promoters in a
volunteer basis, sharing priceless
advice, knowledge and their time.
Four languages:
English
Spanish
Portuguese
French
Virtual training/ Boot-Camp
September 05 – Open Permanently
Evaluations by international
judges
1 February to 1 March 2016

19. Categories
SECTORS

20. SECTORS

21. Eco-Challenge 2015 - 2016:

23. Mini Business
Labs
Training
Capacity
Building
• BOOT Camp
• Follow-up
and support
Eco-
Challenge
• Investment
• International
Visibility
Finals and
Awards
Ceremony
TIC Americas
Eco- Challenge 1 : an integral program to identify, support and award young
entrepreneurs in Agricultural Sectors
Mini Business Labs and
other on site training
sessions
Eco- Challenge
Registration
Open for Registration until
December 15, 2015.
BOOT Camp
October-December, 2015
Follow-up, preparation
and support
Final Submission of
deliverables
January, 2016
Evaluation Process by
International Judges
Announcement of
Finalists - March 2016
Preparations to the Finals
of Eco-Challenge
Finals and Awards
Ceremony
Follow up and Global
Competitions

24. Just a few examples:
Jamaica –
AgroCentral is a web and mobile app
that enables farmers sell their
products directly to local businesses
without the inclusion of a middleman
in the purchasing process –
2015 Finalist
We have won ATECH Demo Day in
Aruba and are preparing to join the
devlabs program in California for a
month to move our business forward
faster.
Trinidad and Tobago –
Soular is a Natural Foods company
using 100% Local Organic produce. We
sell Sun Dried Bananas, Cacao Nibs,
and Brewing Chocolate (brews like
coffee)
Both CIC and TIC Americas Winner
Business partners in Brazil

25. Just a few examples:
Guatemala –
Sistema Permacultural
promotes sustainable
farming of cold land Tilapia
and greenhouses to grow
horticultural products, such
as tomato, pepper,
cucumber, etc.
2014 Finalist
The Bahamas –
Siphiwe Honey Gold Farm and Preserve is a green
certified agro-ecotourism business, which promotes
environmental education, natural resource conservation,
and agronomy research through participation in
ecotourism activities.
Nominated and selected to represent the Caribbean at
the Youth Employment Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, in
May 2012
Youths benefit from this project as they are sensitized and
made aware about sustainable agricultural best practices
through agro-environmental workshops and outdoor learning
facilities; they are exposed to youth entrepreneurship through
the on-farm stay are becoming agro-eco-environmental
stewards.

26. Benefits to young entrepreneurs:
Opportunity to consolidate their
business ideas with guidance from
international business development
experts serving as mentors and
judges
Access to resources and information
about business development through
the on site Mini Labs session and
BOOT Camp
International exposure and visibility
-Through the Expo at the Finals
-Promotional and marketing
exposure
Eco-Challenge 1: Sustainable
Agriculture

27. Eco-Challenge 1: Sustainable
Agriculture
TIMELINE
Launch September , 2015
Registrations OPEN until December 15, 2015
Business Opportunity Online
Training - BOOT Camp. Until February, 2016
Evaluation by International Judges February, 2016
Announcement of Winners March, 2016
Finals, International Expo and
Awards Ceremony June, 2016

28. ¡Youth Solutions to Pressing Challenges!
www.yabt.net
Follow us: @yabts (twitter) | YABTDC (Facebook)

29. Contact YABT
Valerie Lorena, Executive Director, YABT
VLorena@oas.org
Tel. +1 202 370 5064
Akarda Ventour, Program Officer, YABT
Akarda.ventour@yabt.net
Tel. +1 473 407 4836

30. THANK YOU