Why?
Africa is urbanising at an unsustainable pace
It is also home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population.
Africa’s 1.3 billion citizens will likely double in number by 2050, and more than 80% of that increase will occur in cities, especially in slums.
Much of the growth can be attributed to young people from non-urban areas migrating to cities in search of opportunities that are yet to be found in their hometowns.
Our Vision
We believe we can improve the the quality of life for citizens in non-urban sub-Saharan Africa by building 200 Global River Centers
Particularly for the 200 million marginalized young Africans.
We aim to create an alternative to city migration by enhancing inclusive local economic development, democratisation and skills training.
Global River Center creates the frame for enabling inclusive societal and personal growth, motivating young people to stay and be part of developing their regions and establishing a pride in living in nonurban Africa.
Our concept is an innovative and creative combination of needed elements in a cutting-edge sustainable building
Our SDG Impact
How our work intersects with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our Impact
Click on one of the SDG images to see what our contribution is
The Need
What people say about our concept.
The River Center is exactly what we need. We want to be the first area having a River Center. The area needs this – we are ready.
Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng
Omanhene of Bompata Traditional Area, Ghana
This is good. We need this in Kenya and we need it more than ever, as social structures are breaking up and investments tend to be more and more concentrated around the cities.
Christine Misiko
UNDP, Kenya,Business Sector Support Programme
I want to support this, this is needed. Even beyond the city border jurisdiction of Accra – I will be able to facilitate the support beyond too.
Agyei Sowah
Hon Mayor of Accra, Ghana
The River Center concept is reassuring and timely. I see it as a unique and viable way of transforming the unemployed youth into valuable assets for development through community building, job creation and provision of social amenities in rural Ghana. This is an opportunity for all of us to tap in and would want to encourage communities to embrace this concept for accelerated socioeconomic development.
Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa,
Ambassador of Ghana to the Kingdom of Denmark
We have a community center stranding obsolete and youth hanging around in boredom not attending school. We have been struggling to find ways to engage them, the River Center is exactly what we need.
Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III
Mamfehene & Kyidomhene of Akuapem, Ghana
The leadership and responsibility for building Africa rests squarely on Africans. The River Centers are relevant contributors to reinforce inclusive rural community development. Not least with its focus on empowering and supporting the youth and intergenerational relationship building for future development.
Dr. Jonas Chianu
Principal Agricultural Economist. AfDB - Ivory Coast
This is very interesting – I can see the huge potential in this.
Dr Julius Muia
Principal Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Finance
It is exactly the combination of trade and community activities and learning that match the current need in Kenya right now – this is brilliant. Trade does not do it alone.
Gervase Wakoli
Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute
FAQ
We get asked a lot of questions about Global River Center. Here are some of the most common questions to help you understand our story.
No, we are a for-profit impact business, applying social enterprise values. By using a for-profit business model we ensure sustainability and scalability and incentivize stakeholder commitment. Hereby, we have equal emphasis on profit and impact.
No, but we do incorporate elements of all these things. Our concept is built upon the synergy of trade, entertainment, skills development and community services. Our Trading Hub is an environment designed to support local retailers and traders, as well as providing access to national and international products. Learn more about this here...
Our Entertainment Hub is a space tailored for sports, arts and cultural activities. Suitable for social gatherings, festivals, cinema, concerts, media creation, and broadcasting.
Our Education Hub provides skills learning facilities and programs. We provide access to free global learning platforms. Programs include digital and financial literacy, adult literacy, sustainable business development, and agricultural practices.
Our community hub provides an environment for local community gatherings.chief consultations and traditional functions and events, public meetings, public services like health and extension services, and faith-based services.
Our goal is to improve the quality of life for the youth in non-urban Africa. These young people face the risk of becoming a lost generation, as lack of opportunity forces them to become economic migrants. We aim to create an alternative to city migration by enhancing inclusive local economic development, democratisation and skills training.
It is an innovative and unique feature of combining known elements (Trade (shopping mall), Entertainment (sports café), Learning (vocational training) and Community (community-centers) that prove not to be relevant nor viable or sustainable in the current forms in their own right. But the combination and economic viability assured by the dynamics of a social enterprise makes this concept ground-breaking and relevant for modern-day non-urban sub-Saharan Africa.
As a true impact-business GRC will not succeed if we do not create an impact. The usage of the center is directly connected to the impact. By creating a baseline study GRC can measure the impact of the center, and especially the learning hub. Succeeding will entail that the communities establish ownership for the center, in doing so inclusive social and economic development will occur. The non-urban areas will flourish and thereby stop the youth migration to cities and can even reverse the migration.
Contributions can take many shapes and forms. You might be surprised by what your experience and competencies have to offer us and the sense of meaning Global River Center can offer you. Perhaps you can see your company being part of Global River Center - as a partner, tenant, sponsor or in other ways. Whatever you have in mind, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you want to participate. Oh, and we even have a name for our ever-growing team of contributors - it’s called Nordic Taskforce. Surely that’s a team of volunteers you want to join!
We are always interested in exploring all collaboration prospects, just get in touch.
Our first center will be built in Bompata, Ghana where we have already secured 26,000m2 of prime land. Construction is expected to commence at the end of 2020. Until the center is built we intend to use the land for various community activities.
We directly contribute to 8 of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals The spin-off effect from our work means we also contribute to 3 other Goals. Furthermore, the long term impact of our work means we can indirectly contribute towards 4 more goals. Learn more here
Subscribe to the GRC Newsletter
Why don’t you join us and follow the Journey to the River Center.
We send out a newsletter on a frequent basis that will keep you informed on all our activities, subscibe now to stay updated!
