The Samoa Business Hub in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme hosted a Business and Mentor Networking Event last week, a component of a 10-week Youth Business Incubator Programme.

The event was attended by local businesses and mentors of the programme, with presentations from The Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN) with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), The Samoa Recycling & Waste Management Association (SRWMA), Samoa Commercial Bank and SBH’s Green Business Support Credit (GBSC) Scheme.

The networking event provided an opportunity for the young entrepreneurs of the programme to engage with local stakeholders and businesses as they prepare for their pitching competition next week.

The Youth Incubator Program is a component under UNDP’s Circular Economy for the Recovery of Waste, or CERO Waste Project, which aims to create youth employment opportunities in circular waste recovery industries in Samoa and explore and test domestic solutions that accelerate value chain development. In addition, the project also aims to expand the waste management sector, targeting youths and female employment, to buffer the unemployment and consequent gender-specific setbacks triggered by the national State of Emergency restrictions over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The programme was launched in December 2021, supporting young entrepreneurs through trainings that include validation of business ideas, financial literacy, mentoring sessions, marketing and business pitching.