The first Meeting on Youth Entrepreneurship and Rural Microenterprising kicks off the dialogue on rural youth in Cartagena, Colombia this November 15 to 19. The workshop will bring together successful young entrepreneurs – especially beneficiaries of IFAD-supported programs – to share their common experiences in building rural enterprises.

Workshop participants will have the chance to examine the difficulties they face, and provide representatives from IFAD with their opinions on what needs to be done to support rural youth entrepreneurship.

IFAD is looking to improve its rural youth strategy. Based on the suggestions from these young enterprisers we will begin to develop a framework that will allow us to create new tools and mechanisms to support today’s rural youth, and implement our funding in a more effective way.

The Cartagena event offers an exciting opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with other young entrepreneurs. Young people from 15 different nations will gather – each with his or her personal story of perseverance and dedication. More than 20 young entrepreneurs from Colombia will be attending the event, with around 20 international participants joining in the dialogue.

The meeting will allow young participants to understand the fundamental role they play in rural development, also highlighting the essential role their leadership, participation and entrepreneurial spirit play in building their local economies and creating a brighter future.

Project highlights

• Visits to microenterprise operations run by young Colombians in Cartagena its surrounding areas.
• Development of a microenterprises and youth ventures fair, where participants will have the opportunity to present and share their products and activities.
• Several field visits will give participants the chance to explore Colombia’s rural areas.
• Following the event, a two-day Learning Route organized by the IFAD-supported organization PROCASUR will allow young people to learn from the successes – and challenges – of young rural enterprisers in Colombia.
• Share your ideas in our Online Google Forum