Deadline Date: March 28, 2026
The Business Acceleration Support Programme is seeking applications to strengthen and expand existing enterprises and livelihood groups by providing business coaching, financial literacy training, access to grant funding support and market linkage opportunities.
The programme focuses on supporting priority economic sectors including fashion, carpentry, welding, waste recycling, tour guiding and birdwatching, mechanics for bikes and motorbikes, commercial composting, urban farming, food vendors and restaurants, agro-food processing, transport and logistics, car wash services, petty trading, handicraft production such as tie and dye, women market vendors including vegetable and fish sellers, honey sellers, cultural groups, and birdwatch associations.
The programme provides targeted support for established businesses that are ready to grow, including both individual enterprises and organized producer or livelihood groups operating along the Kotu Stream area. Through structured coaching and training, participants receive guidance from qualified sector experts while strengthening their financial management skills and expanding access to market opportunities.
Under the individual support component, the programme targets 400 existing or aspiring businesses. Participants receive sector-specific business coaching delivered by qualified experts, financial literacy training to strengthen business management skills, access to grant funding support subject to applicable conditions, and market linkage support to improve business sustainability and growth.
All selected applicants will be awarded a grant (USD 1,000-8,000). To qualify for individual support, applicants must be Gambian nationals who reside and/or operate an existing business or economic activity along the Kotu Stream area or intend to establish one within the area. They must also demonstrate commitment to completing the full programme and operate or plan to operate within one of the eligible priority sectors identified by the programme.
The programme also provides support to organized livelihood and producer groups, targeting 20 groups working collectively within the local economy. Eligible groups must consist of a minimum of twenty members, and all members must be Gambian nationals. Members must reside and/or operate businesses or economic activities along the Kotu Stream area or intend to establish such activities within the area. Groups must also demonstrate collective commitment to completing the full programme and operate within one of the eligible priority sectors.
Groups selected for the programme receive sector-specific business coaching by qualified experts, financial literacy training, access to grant funding support subject to applicable conditions, and support for establishing stronger market linkages. These groups may include waste collectors associations, women’s gardening groups, tie and dye production groups, handicraft associations, women market vendors, honey sellers, cultural groups, and birdwatch associations.
Producer group targets include waste collectors associations, women’s gardens, tie and dye groups, and community-based livelihood initiatives such as those operating around the Bakoteh centre and similar local economic groups.
For more information, visit WACA.
