"Supporting Women, Youth and local organizations of Vanuatu
active in the Agribusiness sector" 

GROW is a 30-month program implemented jointly by V-Lab and World Vision and funded by the European Union, aimed at accompanying young people and women involved in agribusiness in their entrepreneurial journey as well as to develop the capacities of local and community-based organizations.
Under that program, a total of 100 young men and women will be supported through a comprehensive package of support that includes training, coaching, networking and access to finance.
Another element of the program is working with 10 local organizations to go through an extensive capacity-development program before being provided with grant to implement activities
The first phase of the Incubation Program was launched in June 2023, marking the beginning of a journey to support emerging entrepreneurs. This was followed by the launch of the Civil Society Organization Program (CSO) on March 2024, which expanded the program’s reach to include grassroots initiatives. In September 2024, the second phase of the Incubation Program was officially launched, building on the progress of the initial phase and introducing new opportunities for participants far in the rural areas.​

COMPONENT ONE - Business Incubation Program

Cohort 1
Support to Women and Youth Entrepreneurs in the Agribusiness Sector in Urban Centers

The first cohort of the GROW program, made up of 50 women and youth from urban centers, successfully completed their six-month incubation journey from June to December 2023. Based in and around town areas, these participants brought energy, curiosity, and ambition into the program—and left equipped with real tools to move their business ideas forward.

Field Trip 

Partnerships 

Training

Visiting the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development farm and Teouma Valley Farms to enlighten our entrepreneurs with instrumental experiences to ignite their business ideas. 

The Grow Project is deeply honored to have cultivated a strong relationship with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) that will act as a beacon of hope for our entrepreneurs.

 Our comprehensive training program covers a range of essential topics, including vision and goal setting, financial management, marketing analysis, and more. These training are a vital part of our commitment to enhance the skills and capacities of the individuals. 

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The 1st Incubation program is dedicated to enhancing the skills and capabilities of 50 individuals, also a crucial step towards fostering economic growth in the urban sectors.
Within the 6 months program, we offer a wide range of support to our incubees including: 

• Coaching 
• Onsite assessment 
• Field Trips and
• Business and Financial management training. 
  
  ​For more information on the GROW program, contact Dale Abel, Project Manager at: [email protected]

Cohort 2
Support to Women and Youth Entrepreneurs in the Agribusiness Sector in the Rural Areas

Following the success of the first urban-focused cohort, the second phase of the GROW program reached deeper into Vanuatu’s rural communities—bringing entrepreneurship training, digital skills, and new opportunities to women and youth from eight communities:
​Eratap, Teouma Erapo, Teouma Forkroad, Paunangisu, Epule, Pele, Nguna, and Moso.

This cohort began their incubation journey in September 2024 and concluded in May 2025. Like the first group, they underwent intensive training in business, finance, agri-technical knowledge, and digital payment systems. But this time, the program added a bold new twist: going fully mobile.
Each participant was given a personal smartphone to get hands-on experience with Mvatu and MyCash—two online payment platforms by Vodafone and Digicel. This wasn't just theory. Participants learned by doing—using real tools that can power real businesses. Training sessions weren’t held in one central location; instead, the program team traveled directly to the communities, delivering full-day, on-site workshops. This approach ensured access, comfort, and relevance for all participants, regardless of location.
The highlight of the program was the Live e-Market Day—a first of its kind in Vanuatu. Participants showcased and sold their products using only digital payments—no physical cash allowed. This live event not only tested their practical understanding of mobile platforms but also gave them a public space to build confidence and connect with customers.

COMPONENT TWO - 
​Civil Society Organization Development Program

Under this component, 10 local community-based organizations were selected to go through a 6 month incubation program aimed at developing their capacities to better operate in the area of agri-business.
During this program, these 10 CSOs received a package of support that includes coaching, training, networking, 2 weeks internship, etc. 
At the end of the 6 months, these participating CSOs have pitched a proposal to a number of juries and 4 received a grant to implement agri-business related activities !
These four CSOs are:
Silae Vanuatu Market Vendors Association
Tasivanua Environmental Network
Zero Vatu Self Reliance Local Development Association
Imaio Development Association
​

The selected CSOs at the launch of the program, with their coaches