4. 4
• Mindset issues
• Educational curriculum
• Drug involvement
• Migration
• Financial sector
DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
5. 5
• Macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions
• Micro-finance provisions
• Self-employment opportunities
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
6. 6
USAID’S INITIATIVES
• Structural Reform Process
• New Youth-Serving Initiatives
– Workforce Development
– Junior Achievement
– Cave Hill School of Business
• Youth Microenterprise Opportunities
7. 7
YOUTH MICROENTERPRISE OPPORTUNITIES
• Study conducted in August 2010 for USAID Eastern
Caribbean Youth Microenterprise Program by
EcoVentures International
• Barbados and Dominica first assessments, others will
follow
• Identified wide range of activities in short time,
revealing strong youth opportunities
• Types of High Priority Youth Microenterprise: 35
specific opportunities
12. 12
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TECHNICAL SPECIALTY SERVICES
• Agricultural technical specialist including pest control,
fertilizer and weed management specialist
• Shortage of technicians
• Ministry of Agriculture interested in providing training
to increase viability of greenhouse agriculture
• Trained ag. technicians could immediately provide
services for existing greenhouses
• Ag. Experts identified these jobs as particularly
suitable for youth as they are more technical and less
farm labor-oriented
13. 13
EXAMPLES OF TECHNICAL SERVICES NEEDED IN MARKET
• Pest management
• Fertilizer and weed management
• Irrigation scheduling
• Soil composition testing
• Equipment maintenance
• Post-harvest handling
• Business management
• Networking and brokering
• Record-keeping
• Health, safety and security
• Green house support services
14. 14
SIMILAR ASSESSMENT IN DOMINICA
23% of 30 Youth Microenterprise Opportunities in
Agriculture
– Fishing tourism
– Organic Fertilizer production and distribution
– Raw material bulking and supply to processors
– Specialty crops (herbal teas, hot peppers)
– Distillation of essential oils