HAPPY Program — Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth

The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Agri-Impact Limited has rolled out an ambitious and transformative program dubbed Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) to be implemented by eight Implementing Partners including NewAge Agric Solutions, National Service Scheme (NSS), Ghana Cares (MiDA), Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), TechnoServe, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Jobberman.

HAPPY is built on 3 intervention areas: (i) increasing production and productivity within the poultry, rice, soybean, and tomato value chains, (ii) promoting value addition, fostering entrepreneurship, and facilitating market development, and (iii) developing strategic policies and advancing youth, gender, social inclusion and voice and agency.

The program aims to create 326,000 dignified and fulfilling jobs for youth (70% women) and persons with disability, increase food production by 190,000 tons, generate annual revenue of over $200 million, and increase agricultural productivity in rice, soybean, tomato, and poultry value chains to reduce import of strategic foods by 10%.

Under HAPPY, Agri-Impact Limited is collaborating with the E-Learning Centre of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to roll out the e-HAPPY Project. The e-HAPPY training programs seek to deepen the use of ICT, and youth-led digital solutions to transform the agri-food systems in Ghana.

Objectives of e-HAPPY Program

Build the capacity of 100 selected youth in the use of innovative digital technological and pedagogical tools through tailor-made coaching modules.
Train 500 trainers of trainers (TOT) youth to become HAPPY Program ambassadors to drive a technology-driven agribusiness ecosystem.
Repurpose/co-create selected content suitable for virtual environments with Agri-Impact partners.
Create targeted, innovative online training/technology transfer modules based on identified needs along the Agri-food value chain.
Equip youth to use programming for integrating and programming Internet of Things (IoT) devices in agriculture while using machine learning concepts to develop models for predicting crop yields, pest outbreaks, or optimal environmental conditions based on historical data.

Masterclass for Future Agripreneurs Program

The Masterclass for Future Agripreneurs training seeks to build the capacity of participants in innovative digital technological and pedagogical tools. This will be a five-module course delivered using a blended approach; 70% online and 30% in-person. The training duration shall be eight weeks. Activities will require at least 8 hours per week.

Applicants must have a first degree from a reputable tertiary institution, be computer literate, have a personal laptop with 8GB RAM and a minimum of i3 processor, have internet connectivity, be available for a minimum of 8 hours per week, and have analytical and problem-solving skills.

HAPPYTech Ambassadors Program

The HAPPYtech Ambassadors training is a trainer-of-trainers program to build the capacity of HAPPY program participants to become ambassadors in the different project hubs across Ghana. Trained participants will train other HAPPY participants to use tailor-made innovative technologies to speed up their routine agricultural activities along specific value chains. The training covers four modules over six (6) weeks in a 70% online and 30% in-person blended delivery mode.

Coding and Front-End Developers (COFED) Certificate Program

This certificate program in coding and front-end development seeks to build the capacity of national service trainees and existing youth enterprises to create technology startups, develop applications, build websites, and launch digital products and services. This hands-on program covers six modules in a blended mode (70% online, 30% in-person) over six months, requiring at least 8 hours per week.

Project Partners: Mastercard Foundation, KNUST E-Learning Centre