Full Name: Introducing sustainable lifestyle and sustainable entrepreneurship into African universities and colleges

 

The African 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) regards awareness and education through schools and other institutions as the means to achieve the objectives of its thematic areas that are crafted in the context of regional poverty reduction priorities. The 10 YFP also stated sustainable entrepreneurship (specially producing sustainable products and creating markets for sustainable goods and services) as an opportunity to reverse the region’s environ-mental and social degradation. African universities have a better opportunity to develop and share skills for sustainable entrepreneurship, thereby supporting sustainable lifestyles, securing basic needs, and moving up the sustainability agenda.

This project under the title "Introducing sustainable lifestyle and sustainable entrepreneurship into African universities and colleges" targets students in African universities and helps to introduce the concept of SCP as an opportunity for students to elaborate business ideas. The project aims at introducing the issues and concepts of sustainable lifestyle and sustainable entrepreneurship into African universities by integrating informal educational activities with formal education. The focus of the project is the delivery of training sessions in eight universities drawn from four African countries. As African universities remain male-dominated, and female representation particularly in the area of entrepreneurship is rare, the project pays special attention to motivating female entrepreneurs at universities.

The duration of the project is two years. Training packages, which incorporate various interactive activities, are being prepared. The project has two phases: the first phase is the delivery of training for two African universities with a larger number of participants. This phase will also serve as a pilot test for the training packages and as a platform to solicit further information about the state of sustainable lifestyle and entrepreneurship in African universities. The outcome of this pilot test and the information gathered will be used to refine the training packages. The second phase of the training will be to "Educate the Educators" in the form of workshops for participants, who will be drawn from the eight universities (including the two pilot-testing universities)

 

The project contributors include the UN Marrakech Task Forces, successful social entrepreneurs and organisations and individuals who promote sustainable entrepreneurship and women's development.

The project is financially supported by the UN Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Life Style, which is led by the Government of Sweden.

 

Please contact Fisseha Tessema at the following e-mail address: fisseha.tessema@scp-centre.org