Towards the Christian Development Bank: An Important Step for Africa

The Grande Rencontre des Jeunes Entrepreneurs & Décideurs Chrétiens (RJEDC) , organized by IF&C-Togo as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, marked the year 2024 with three major editions in Lomé, Kpalimé and Sokodé . The event brought together over 700 participants, including entrepreneurs, decision-makers, researchers and representatives of financing and employment promotion institutions, all united by a common ambition: to promote the economic empowerment of young Christians.

A structuring initiative for Christian youth

Conceived as a framework for exchange and training, the RJEDC is built around conferences, panels, company visits and networking activities, aimed at building the capacities of young entrepreneurs and energizing the Christian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Emphasis was placed on four strategic sectors:

The knowledge economy
The social economy / social entrepreneurship
Digital industry and technology
Sustainable development and climate change
The event also gave participants the opportunity to equip themselves, discover new opportunities and structure networks to meet their community's economic challenges.

Towards concrete action for the future

Beyond the exchanges, the RJEDC laid the foundations for ambitious projects to support Christian entrepreneurship. Upcoming initiatives include

The development and implementation of an economic strategy for the employment of young Christians,
The creation of a Christian incubator for youth employment
The launch of a Christian magazine focusing on economics and entrepreneurship,
Project to promote human capital, youth integration, inclusion and equity,
The African Forum on Sustainable Socio-Economic and Human Development of Churches,
Setting up a support fund for young Christians' economic initiatives
Development of a Loan Guarantee Fund for Christian SMEs
Mobilizing financial players to create the Christian Development Bank (BCD Africa)

An expanding network

With the participation of influential figures from the African continent such as Dr Hubert Djogue and the Agassounon brothers, and under the patronage of Reverend Dr Kao Agnondom, President of the Apostolic Church of Togo, this meeting fostered a collaborative dynamic essential to the economic development of Christian youth in Africa.

For (Helly) Kossi-Amen GBENE, Promoter of the Grande Rencontre des Jeunes Entrepreneurs Décideurs & Chrétiens, this assessment testifies to the emergence of a structured Christian entrepreneurial ecosystem, ready to drive sustainable and inclusive economic development.

Click on the link to download the full report in PDF format 👇https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W5RCzo0RYlQ-B3D3_tsosy5coCWw1if5/view?usp=drivesdk

Editorial staff