Press Release

January 22, 2020

USADF, USAID, and Citi Foundation Team Up to Invest in Young African Social Entrepreneurs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 23, 2020 – The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are pleased to announce, with support from Citi Foundation, plans to award a total of $400K in grant funding to 42 young African social entrepreneurs developing businesses for social and community change in 22 Sub-Saharan countries.  All of the awardees are Mandela Washington Fellows (2019) under the U.S. government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

By pairing seed capital with technical assistance, USADF, USAID, and Citi Foundation provide young entrepreneurs with the tools needed to invest in their own communities. Each competition winner will receive at least $10,000 in seed capital to strengthen systems to support the growth of their companies – ranging in sectors from agribusiness and healthcare services to renewable energy and education.

The goal of the public-private partnership is to increase business know-how and access to seed capital for Africa’s next generation of business leaders and social entrepreneurs.  The investments will allow the young social entrepreneurs to create jobs, train other youth, impact their communities, and create or expand markets by providing goods and services.

USADF is proud to partner with Citi Foundation for the 4th year and gains a new partner in USAID. USADF’s goal is to catalyze young African ingenuity through entrepreneurship and support the entrepreneurs in expanding their social enterprises. Since 2014, USADF has awarded over $5 million to 250+ young leaders in over 30 countries.  

A complete list of award winners can be found in the attached brochure

About United States Agency for International Development:

USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. The purpose of foreign aid should be ending the need for its existence, and we provide development assistance to help partner countries on their own development journey to self-reliance – looking at ways to help lift lives, build communities, and establish self-sufficiency.

Our efforts are both from and for the American people. USAID demonstrates America’s goodwill around the world; increases global stability by addressing the root causes of violence; opens new markets and generates opportunity for trade; creates innovative solutions for once unsolvable development challenges; saves lives; and advances democracy, governance, and peace. Visit our website to learn more about USAID.

About the U.S. African Development Foundation:

The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) is an independent U.S. government agency established by Congress to invest in African grassroots organizations, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises. USADF's investments promote local economic development by increasing incomes, revenues and jobs, and creating pathways to prosperity for marginalized populations and underserved communities. Utilizing a community-led development approach, USADF provides seed capital and local project management assistance improving lives and impacting livelihoods while addressing some of Africa's biggest challenges around food insecurity, insufficient energy access, and unemployment, particularly among women and youth. Over the last five years, throughout Africa, with an emphasis on the Horn, Sahel and Great Lakes regions, USADF has invested more than $115 million dollars directly into over 1000 African owned and operated entities, and impacted over four million lives.

About the Citi Foundation:

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philanthropy" approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.