Mastercard Foundation BRIDGE-in Agriculture (BIA)

Mastercard Foundation BRIDGE-in Agriculture (BIA) is sponsored by Mastercard Foundation. A 5-year initiative aimed at making affordable capital and technical support available for SMEs in agriculture and related sectors in Ghana. The program also equips young people and women with skills through training for dignified and fulfilling work.

BRIDGE-in Agriculture is dedicated to making affordable capital and technical support easily accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural and related sectors in Ghana.

We have a keen focus on equipping the youth and women with the necessary skills to not just secure employment Affordable and Flexible Loans for Agribusinesses Get affordable and easily accessible loans which are aimed at expanding agribusiness, as well as creating jobs for the youth and women.

Ultimately, our goal is to significantly reduce poverty among the youth, women and smallholder farmers while contributing to the global food supply chain. Financial literacy is important to the success of agribusinesses. There are also other pertinent skills that play a huge role to the success of agribusinesses and its related industries.

Here, you can access targeted training to start or grow your business or simply enhance your skill set which will allow you to gain dignifying and fulfilling employment.

Building Resilience and Investing in the Development and Growth of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (” BRIDGE-in Agriculture” or “BIA”) is a 5-year Mastercard Foundation initiative that aims to make affordable capital and technical support available for SMEs in agriculture and related sectors in Ghana. The program also equips young people and women with skills through training for dignified and fulfilling work.

To ease the financial burden on the youth, BRIDGE-in Agriculture is working with commercial banks to lend to agribusinesses at single-digit interest rates. This helps them expand operations and create new jobs, which lead to poverty reduction among the youth and women in Ghana. BRIDGE-in Agriculture partners with commercial banks to offer affordable and accessible loans to agribusinesses in Ghana.

These loans are tailored to the Ghanaian agribusiness sector, addressing some of the existing challenges of access to loans for SMEs in agriculture and adjacent sectors. Eligible agribusinesses include SMEs engaged in primary agriculture, agro-processing, agricultural input suppliers, agri-technology, as well as other entities within the agricultural value chain, such as restaurants, and agricultural research and development.

BRIDGE-in Agriculture partners with business development service (BDS) providers to offer free targeted training and technical support to agribusinesses. It also aims to train youth and women and equip them with skills to secure dignified and fulfilling employment.

This training program is open to SMEs operating in the agriculture and adjacent sectors and youth between 18-35 years, who are seeking to start a business or gain fulfilling employment. Training participants can be selected to win a grant of up to GHS27,500 to support their businesses’ growth.

Loan Application Preparation Checklist Prior to seeking a loan, kindly review to ensure that you have all the required information below on hand 1. Loans are available for businesses 2. Businesses should be registered 3.

Businesses should be generating revenue 4. Businesses should be operating for at least six months 1. Bank statements for at least six months 4.

Depreciation and amortization 7. Operating expenses exclusive of depreciation, taxes, interest and amortization 2. Company registered number 1.

Certificate of incorporation 2. Certified certificate of commencement 7. Business operating permit 8.

Industry applicable permits