Global Support Foundation

Grassroot Entrepreneurship

About Us

Global Support Foundation for Grassroot Entrepreneurship (GSFGE) was set up in August 2015. Its Executive Director (ED) is Golden Anikwe who is the head of the management with support from board members of GSF and several professionals. GSF will encourage youths to actively increase their level of participation in the business world with support from their co-operative business enterprises. This has been proven achievable through his organisation – Co-operative Support Services for Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs Limited – in Ireland between 2006 and 2014.

The key functions of the organisation include:

  • Providing business/entrepreneurship training
  • Providing consultancy and advisory services to co-operative youths.
  • As a network for exchange of information, ideas and experience
  • Encouraging advocacy by co-operative youths

It will focus on creating awareness among youths of the benefits of co-operative businesses. This will lead to the formation of several co-operatives which will support the individual businesses of their members. To achieve its goals and objectives, GSF will work in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organisations which will provide the necessary support for start-up businesses and already established ones. GSF essentially sees itself as working in partnership with the state, national and international co-operative movements, national and international development partners, financial institutions and all relevant institutions and organisation.

GSF SERVICES

In order to encourage african youths to increase their level of participation in their society;s affairs, GSF offers a number of services to assist the set up and successful implementation of co-operatives. THESE SERVICES INCLUDES:

  1. General advice on Co-operative/Democratic/social enterprises model of managing a business.
  2. Development support to groups and individuals in setting up Co-operative enterprises.
  3. Start-up training programmes from basic introductory programmes to comprehensive ones providing internationally recognised business management and administration qualifications.
  4. Trading sector training services include a range of tailor-made programmes from short one day sessions to comprehensive courses on different aspects of managing a Co-operative enterprise.
  5. Consultancy services include feasibility studies, business analysis and management reviews.
  6. Guidance with the preparation of business plans.
  7. Advice on government grants available for such ventures.

GSF OFFERS ADVICE FREE OF CHARGE IN MOST CASES AND ASSISTS WITH:

  1. Feasibility Studies
  2. Business Analysis
  3. Management Reviews

TRAINING IS GIVEN IN AREAS SUCH AS:

  1. Co-operative Skills
  2. Technical Skills
  3. Business Management

Linkages between GSFGE, Government Institutions, NGOs, Business Communities, etc. and the Target Groups

Our Vision

GSF has a vision of Africa as a multi-cultural continent where youths can realise their dreams and work together to create a more successful continent in the future.

GSF has a vision for itself to be recognised as the reference organisation for youth co-operatives in Africa and to become a key player in the business life of the continent. It has an ambition to become an advocacy organisation that will represent the views of its members in all relevant forums including within the political arena.

Our Mission

GSF sees its mission as one of encouraging and helping youths to unlock their full potential by pooling their skills and resources to develop co-operative businesses in their chosen business sectors. It aims to achieve this by developing a best practice model for the creation of new co-operative businesses. It will offer excellent business advice, training and development and a range of publications tailored to the needs of its members.

Strategic Goals and Objectives

Goals

  • To develop a sustainable business in the long-term through promoting the development of youth co-operatives in Africa.
  • To create awareness of the contribution of youth co-operatives to all aspects of life in Africa.
  • To become the reference organisation for youth co-operatives in Africa for Government, media, academics and other business organisations
  • To bring together governmental and non-governmental organisations and Africa youths in an enduring partnership that will be mutually beneficial to all parties.

Objectives

  • develop a best practice processes for setting up new youth co-operative businesses.
  • To develop a wide range of support services that will be recognised by youth co-operatives and individuals as valuable in contributing to the success of their own businesses.
  • To create awareness of GSF and it activities in the communities, relevant Africa Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Africa society in general.
  • To bring Africa youths out of poverty by promoting their economic activities through efficient co-operatives.
  • Raise the level of awareness of Africa youths as regards their responsibilities to nation-building.
  • To raise the economic participation level of Africa’s female population.
  • To create an enabling environment for a fuller economic and social integration of the victims of the turmoil of the past.

Competitive Advantage of GSFGE

One of the most striking features of GSFGE as an organisation is that it is innovative and unique. There is no other organisation in Africa that provides the services that GSFGE offers. In some respects, no other organisation is so singularly focused on the development of co-operative businesses in particular among the youths.

Given its unique nature, a discussion about competitors and competitive advantage is somewhat redundant. However, there is of course nothing to prevent competitors from emerging in the future.

The competitive strengths of GSFGE are:

  • The unique knowledge and expertise of its founder, Golden Anikwe, its partners and professional staff members in co-operative organisations and management
  • Its strong desire and commitment to promote the economic and social wellbeing of Africa youths.

1. The Founder Golden Anikwe is a co-operative practitioner of international exposure. Golden is the founder and CEO of The Co-operative Support Services Limited, Ireland which for years promoted the establishment of co-operatives among ethnic minorities; training their members and staff as well as guiding these co-operatives in their operations.

2. His Connections The CSS (Co-operative Support Services) of Ireland, which was founded by Golden Anikwe, was for years a member of International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the highest international umbrella co-operative organizations of the world.

3. Filling a Gap (Clear Unmet Need) The co-operative model is not widely used or understood in Africa – as a veritable development instrument. There is therefore a yawning gap. GSF has identified both a demand and an unmet need from these Africa youths for co-operative businesses. The co-operative model has been adopted very successfully in several countries to create sustainable employment and increased wealth. Indeed, several UN bodies are interested in using co-operatives as employment and wealth creators and for sustainable development.