Background
Supported by UNDP, African Union and Afri Labs, Rollo is a business simulation and capacity building program dedicated to inspiring and supporting small African enterprises facing challenges after the COVID-19 outbreak. It is composed of three intensive simulation days in which enterprises learn to manage and operate in a competitive environment within different market outlooks.
The program provides a platform for African entrepreneurs to create ideas and test new strategies in a simulated and risk-free environment. Rollo believes that competition encourages creativity and creates more opportunities, as such Rollo enterprises are ranked based on their profitability and market share within the simulated environment.
Features
- Capacity Building: Capacity building for 360 African Entrepreneurs in 5 countries from the 5 regions of Africa.
- Helping Reduce COVID-19 Impact: Rollo program will help reduce the impact of the pandemic in small businesses across the continent
- 3-Day Bootcamp: The Rollo Bootcamp includes 3 days of learning. The Program is fully dependent on business simulations that develop participants’ holistic thinking, commercial acumen, decision-making, and strategic skills.
- Observation & Learning: Rollo’s experience will help in disseminating lessons learned and good practices within Governments, non-state actors, businesses etc. and to make use of them in future challenges.
- Reshaping Africa: Through Rollo, small enterprises will be challenged and therefore grow to create a better and more sustainable Africa.
- Leading the Economy: Rollo will help develop small African Businesses to lead the African continent’s economy.
Who Should Apply?
African SMEs
- African small companies that have been affected by COVID-19.
- Company represented by a team of 3 participants.
- Between the ages 20-45.
- Who run a small business (less than 10 employees) for more than a year.
From 5 Countries
- Companies must be based in one of the 5 following countries: Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Formal or Informal Business:
- Both registered or unregistered businesses are invited to apply.
Diverse Team
- Priority goes to teams which have diverse participants, and/or demonstrate inclusivity of minorities or marginalized groups are preferred.
- Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Diaspora-led Businesses are encouraged to apply.