Mandate
Expanding access to capital, enterprise incubation, mass employment, and trade facilities.
Livelihoods and Productive Inclusion
Creating sustainable economic opportunities and resilient communities across Africa
Economic Opportunity For All
At THESO, we believe that economic empowerment is a cornerstone of sustainable development. Our Livelihoods initiatives aim to create economic opportunities that help individuals and communities lift themselves out of poverty and build resilient futures.
Through skills development, entrepreneurship support, and market linkages, we're working to transform economic systems to be more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.
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Skills Development
Providing vocational training and market-relevant skills for economic opportunity
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Entrepreneurship
Supporting small businesses to grow and create jobs in their communities
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Market Systems
Transforming economic systems to be more inclusive and sustainable
Key Initiatives
Our comprehensive approach addresses multiple dimensions of economic empowerment to ensure lasting impact.
1. Youth Skills Development
- ✓Provide market-relevant vocational training and digital skills to prepare youth for the jobs of the future.
- ✓Support apprenticeship programmes and job placement services to connect trained youth with employment opportunities.
2. Micro and Small Enterprise Development
- ✓Provide business development services and mentoring to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
- ✓Facilitate access to finance through savings groups, microfinance, and linkages to financial institutions.
3. Women's Economic Empowerment
- ✓Support women's access to productive resources, including land, technology, and markets.
- ✓Promote women's leadership in economic decision-making at household and community levels.
4. Green Jobs and Climate Resilience
- ✓Develop green jobs in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism sectors.
- ✓Build economic resilience to climate change through diversification of livelihoods and climate-smart enterprise development.
5. Market Systems Development
- ✓Strengthen market systems to make them more inclusive and beneficial for marginalized groups.
- ✓Facilitate linkages between producers and markets to increase incomes and economic opportunity.
Our Impact
THESO supports approved livelihoods and economic-empowerment programmes through documented delivery arrangements, partner oversight and verified reporting.
Skills
Market-relevant vocational and digital capability support
Enterprise
Business development, mentoring and financial inclusion pathways
Market systems
Producer linkages, value chains and inclusive economic participation
"The business training and mentorship I received from THESO changed my life. I was able to turn my small tailoring business into a thriving enterprise that now employs five other women in my community. The digital skills training also helped me reach customers online and expand my market."
Illustrative participant perspective
Testimonials require consent, verification and approved disclosure.
Discuss Economic Empowerment Programmes
Funding supports approved livelihoods programmes through documented delivery arrangements, partner oversight and verified reporting. Engagement is subject to the applicable funding terms and programme scope.
Learn More
Explore additional resources to learn more about our Livelihoods initiatives.
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Livelihoods Impact Report
Download our comprehensive report on economic empowerment in Africa and our approach to transformation.
Published to the Documents section when availableEntrepreneurship Toolkit
Access practical tools and resources for starting and growing a successful business.
Published to the Documents section when availableLivelihoods, Economic Empowerment & Commercial Infrastructure
Institutional Framework
Utilizing dual-track vocational models and export-led growth strategies benchmarked against leading emerging market industrialization frameworks.
Execution Focus
Capitalizing microfinance institutions, structuring youth apprenticeships, and digitizing local trade markets.
Physical Infrastructure Focus
Constructing modern municipal market halls, light-industrial artisan parks, women-led enterprise incubators, and border trade processing centers.