556 Young Entrepreneurs Empowered in 1st Cohort of DB Program

Karonga & Mzimba North, Malawi: In a significant milestone for youth entrepreneurship and digital transformation, LICO has successfully trained 556 young entrepreneurs under the first cohort of its Digital Business Program. Implemented in Karonga and Mzimba North districts, this initiative forms part of the Going Beyond project, in partnership with Digital Opportunity Trust and the Mastercard Foundation.

The Digital Business Program is designed to empower micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners, 70% of whom are women, through practical digital, business, and soft skills. The first cohort, comprised of youth aged 18 to 35, included young people running small-scale, necessity-driven businesses, many of whom are secondary school leavers or school dropouts striving to make ends meet.

Central to this success are LICO’s Youth Leaders, trained graduates recruited and deployed back into their communities to serve as digital business facilitators. These youth leaders identify and enroll disadvantaged entrepreneurs, helping them gain vital skills in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, community building, digital transformation, and personal development. The aim is not only to provide knowledge, but to instill confidence and a long-term vision for business growth.

This program goes beyond skills training. It’s about building a strong, sustainable foundation for economic growth by enabling young people to see business as a viable, scalable path out of poverty.

The initiative also exposes participants to business development and consultancy services by creating linkages with key institutions, such as financial service providers, business registration bodies, and trade organisations. Through peer learning, mentorship, stakeholder engagement, and continuous monitoring, the program ensures participants are not just trained but supported through every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.

This is the first of three targeted cohorts, with a goal to train 1,500 young entrepreneurs over six months. With continued support and partnerships, the Going Beyond project is poised to transform communities by equipping young people with the tools to succeed in the modern business world.