The Women in Digital Business (WiDB) at AM-Steve House Program is a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower African women entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital economy.
Led by AM-Steve House in partnership with ITC/ILO and Microsoft Philanthropies, WiDB addresses the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly in non-tech Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The program builds a community of women entrepreneurs across Africa, fostering collaboration, innovation, and growth. Participants benefit from networking opportunities and join a thriving ecosystem that supports long-term entrepreneurial success.
The program offers a comprehensive curriculum combining:
- ITCILO Women in Digital Business (WiDB) course – digital skills such as building an online presence and integrating tools for e-commerce and operations.
- ILO Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training – covering ideation, planning, and business growth strategies.
- Formalization Support Course – guiding participants through business registration, compliance, and branding.
WiDB will train 50,000 women entrepreneurs over three years using a phased implementation model:
- Pilot phase: 500 women (current call)
- Incubation phase: 5,000 women
- Full rollout: 50,000 women
This structure ensures personalized learning, peer-community building, and scalable impact.
Participants receive fully funded training, one-on-one coaching, and financial support for business formalization (registration, tax compliance, branding). Top-performing participants also gain access to investment readiness training and capital opportunities.
Selection/Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants must:
- Be women aged 18–60.
- Reside in any of the 55 African countries.
- Be aspiring or existing entrepreneurs with a business idea or operational enterprise.
- Preference will be given to those leading or planning to launch non-tech MSMEs.
Number of Awardees:
50,000 women entrepreneurs over three years, starting with 500 participants in the pilot phase.
Value of Scholarship:
- Fully funded training and one-on-one coaching.
- Financial support for business formalization (registration, tax compliance, branding).
- Investment readiness training and access to capital opportunities for top performers.
Duration of Training:
Each cohort runs for 12 weeks within the three-year phased rollout.
Application Deadline:
September 19, 2025. There are multiple deadlines. This call is for the final phase of our pilot. See the program page (widb.amstevehouse.com) and application form for specific cohort deadlines.
Is it offered annually?
Yes. The program runs on a 12-week cohort cycle as part of a three-year phased implementation.
Program Provider:
AM-Steve House in partnership with ITCILO and Microsoft Philanthropies.
Eligible Countries:
All 55 African countries.
To be taken at (country):
The program is delivered online, allowing participation from any African country.
Field/Level of Study:
Entrepreneurship, Business Development, and Digital Skills Training.
How to Apply:
Applications are online using the following link: https://bit.ly/467r6Oq. Ensure you are applying for the Training of Entrepreneurs (ToE) program. Detailed guidelines and application forms are available on the AM-Steve House platform: https://widb.amstevehouse.com.
Deadline: September 19, 2025
Click HERE to Apply
