Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The Digital Access for Rural Empowerment (DARE) Program has officially launched three innovative digital platforms in Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, to advance digital inclusion and economic empowerment for women and youth in rural Ghana.

The launch event brought together beneficiaries, traditional authorities, local government representatives, consortium partners, and community stakeholders to witness the unveiling of the Caregivers App, Financial App, and the EMI Platform (Digital Market Access Platform), digital tools designed to create sustainable pathways for employment, entrepreneurship, caregiving services, and financial management.

The DARE Program is implemented by a consortium comprising GI-KACE Consult Ltd, UNESCO, and the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative seeks to equip women and youth with digital, entrepreneurial, and employability skills to improve livelihoods and drive inclusive community development.

Stakeholders commend the impact of the DARE Program

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE ) for Yilo Krobo Municipality, Francis Addo Akumatey, who attended the launch, commended the DARE Consortium for the progress made so far through the implementation of the program. He noted that beyond skills training, the project has contributed meaningfully to improving the livelihoods of participants through startup support and economic empowerment opportunities.

According to him, some beneficiaries have already received funding support and startup kits to establish or expand their businesses, while participants across the three intervention areas under the DARE Program have gained valuable skills that position them for sustainable income generation. He further encouraged beneficiaries to take advantage of the newly launched digital platforms to strengthen their businesses, improve financial management, and access broader economic opportunities.

The Development Queen Mother of Yilo, Manye Dede Addo-Teye, also expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the DARE Program and the visible transformation among participants.

In her remarks, she recalled participating in the project’s community entry activities last year, where the consortium first introduced the vision and objectives of the initiative to community leaders and stakeholders. “At the time, the project sounded very promising, and we were hopeful that the consortium would deliver on its commitment. Today, I am happy to witness real testimonies from participants about how the program has improved their lives through skills development, job opportunities, and economic empowerment,” she stated.

She further pledged her continued support for the program and encouraged more women and young people within the municipality to embrace digital opportunities.

Digital platforms designed to bridge opportunity gaps

The newly launched applications form part of the DARE Program’s broader strategy to connect training outcomes with practical livelihood opportunities.

The EMI Platform serves as a digital marketplace that enables women entrepreneurs, artisans, and small business owners to promote and sell their products and services to customers across Ghana and beyond.



The Caregivers App is a technology-driven platform that connects trained caregivers to families, institutions, and healthcare providers in need of caregiving services, while also creating structured employment opportunities within the caregiving sector.

The Financial App provides users with practical digital tools to manage savings, track expenses, monitor income, and strengthen financial planning for both personal and business growth.

Building pathways for sustainable livelihoods

Through a combination of digital skills training, entrepreneurship development, mentorship, and transition support, the initiative continues to position women and youth for dignified and fulfilling work. The atmosphere at the launch reflected excitement and optimism as participants shared testimonies of increased confidence, improved digital skills, and emerging business opportunities following their engagement with the program.

The DARE Consortium indicated that the app rollout forms part of a long-term vision to create an integrated ecosystem that supports learning, economic participation, caregiving services, and financial inclusion in underserved communities.

Following the successful launch in Somanya, the consortium is expected to continue the rollout of the digital platforms in Bekwai and Gushegu as part of efforts to deepen community impact across all intervention districts.