Education & training through OVO

At OVO, we believe it is important that volunteers not only contribute their expertise, but also have opportunities to grow and connect with one another. That is why we organise training sessions, workshops and activities throughout the year that encourage inspiration and exchange. On this page, we also share reading and study materials.

For all OVO volunteers

Interculturality Workshop
Working with entrepreneurs in an international context also means facing cultural differences. That’s why we organize this workshop 2 times per year. We ask every OVO volunteer to attend at least once.
➡️ More info or register via nathalie@ovo.be

OVO Workshops
We regularly organize inspiring thematic workshops for all volunteers. They provide new ideas, insights, and tools to enrich your commitment, while also creating a space to exchange experiences and inspire one another.

OVO New Year's Reception
The OVO New Year’s Reception is the annual moment when we bring our volunteers together. We look back on the past year, share what is happening within OVO and look ahead. A relaxed and informal opportunity to reconnect, catch up and exchange experiences.

OVO General Assembly
Our annual General Assembly is open to all volunteers. Alongside the statutory part, we always include a public session featuring one or more inspiring keynote speakers. It’s the perfect moment to reflect together on what OVO stands for and where we are heading.

Specifically for Business Coaches

Intervision Sessions for Business Coaches
In 2025, we launched a new initiative: intervision sessions, designed exclusively for Business Coaches. These gatherings offer space for reflection, perspective, and peer support. They are not about finding quick solutions but about sharing experiences and exploring new viewpoints together.

Practical details:

Small groups (5–7 Business Coaches)
3 sessions per year (March, May, October)
Duration: 3 hours each
Location: OVO office or at a participant’s home
Language: English, French, or Dutch (depending on the group)
Max. 7 participants per group, with the expectation to attend all sessions

➡️ Interested? Contact nathalie@ovo.be

Case Study: Zoé Rohi - Benin

This video captures a strategic meeting focused on a Benin-based company supported by OVO and recently awarded the OVO Label. The recording highlights the key stages of the process through contributions from the business coach, the compliance cell, the investment committee, as well as the entrepreneur’s perspective, sharing her experience and vision. A meaningful exchange showcasing the rigor, support, and impact behind the OVO program.

Reading tips

Tino Chibebe – The Black Opportunity: Conversations on Belgian Venture Capital and Afropean Entrepreneurship
A must-read on the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs in Belgium and how they can gain access to the world of venture capital. Relevant insights for anyone interested in fintech, funding, and diversity.
Loïc De Cannière – Africa: A Dreamed Future
A captivating and optimistic narrative that breaks stereotypes about Africa. Drawing on his experience as an impact investor, De Cannière reveals a continent full of ambition, innovation, and entrepreneurship – and calls on Europe to engage in genuine collaboration.

Reports & Sector Studies

Publication Pan African Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships Ecosystem Research Report (eng)
Publication: Sustainable Development Report 2025 (eng)
KU Leuven / HIVA Research Report:
Strategic insights for the further development and strengthening of Flemish relations with Africa (eng)
- This report explores how Flanders, in a dynamic global context shaped by geopolitical change, can develop sustainable and mutually beneficial relations with Africa.
  An expanded cooperation with Africa offers significant economic opportunities, including a growing consumer market and access to raw materials crucial for the green transition. Beyond the economic dimension, stronger relations and deeper partnerships are also desirable in other areas.

LinkedIn training for OVO volunteers

During this inspiring session, our volunteers received practical tips on how to increase OVO’s visibility and impact on LinkedIn. A special thank you goes to OVO volunteer Mic Adam, who generously shared his time and expertise to guide us.

What was covered?

How to help grow the OVO page (inviting followers, adding OVO as volunteer experience, using a branded background image).
The importance of engaging visuals, short and powerful texts, the right hashtags, and a call to interact.
How likes, comments, and reposts work within the LinkedIn algorithm, and why quick reactions are key to reaching a larger audience.
Concrete actions everyone can take: liking, commenting, and sharing OVO posts, inviting your network to follow the OVO page, and contributing content for new posts.
The session was recorded so that those who couldn’t attend live can also benefit from these valuable insights.

Watch the video and discover how you, as a volunteer, can contribute to OVO’s online visibility!

OVO training 'Introduction to the Development Cooperation Sector'

Through this training you will get an insight into how NGOs operate today, what obligations they all have to meet and what is the situation with all this government funding. You will learn which actors all operate in the world of development cooperation and how they are subsidised, and we will look in particular at the place of NGOs and their specific operation in the broader framework of various 'official aid channels'.

We then go into the specific functioning of Belgian NGOs as of 2017 (with a focus on all the changes implemented under Minister De Croo). Especially those new developments in the NGO sector will be highlighted in this training, so even if you attended the training in the past, it might still be useful to attend it again.

The course is available in Dutch. If you would like more information in French, please contact anne-lise@ovo.be.

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