Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement Reforms (SWEEP) is an initiative focused on eliminating barriers that limit women-owned and led businesses (WOLBs) in Nigeria’s procurement sector. Although women entrepreneurs represent 40% of Nigerian businesses, they face substantial challenges in accessing public contracts, constraining their economic impact.
Launched in partnership with the World Bank and the Young Professionals Program (YPP), SWEEP offers a 4-week intensive course in a hybrid format, equipping women entrepreneurs with critical procurement skills for public and private sector contracts. The program is open to women entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy in Abuja. Through training, mentorship, and engagement with key stakeholders, SWEEP addresses obstacles like financial access, information gaps, and business formalization, empowering women-owned and women-led businesses in Abuja to participate competitively in procurement.
Our mission is to foster a more inclusive business environment that supports women entrepreneurs and contributes to Nigeria’s broader development goals, including poverty reduction, job creation, and sustainable growth.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Women Entrepreneurs in Abuja: The business must be owned or led by a woman and operate within Abuja.
- Commitment to Participation: Applicants must be committed to attending all training sessions.
- Informal or Early-Stage Businesses: Priority will be given to businesses that are not yet fully formalized and require guidance in formalization.
- Financial Flexibility: No strict financial requirements. Businesses with limited financial resources are encouraged to apply.
- Willingness to Formalize: Applicants must be open to formalizing their business operations as part of the training.
Criteria for Women-Owned/Women-Led Businesses:
- Women-Owned Enterprises: The business must be at least 51% owned by women.
- Leadership Criteria: At least 20% women ownership and women in key leadership roles (CEO, COO, etc.) qualify.
- Board Representation: Businesses with 30% female representation on the board will be prioritize.
The Curriculum
1 month / 3 Modules / 11 classes / 2 – 4 hrs per class (inclusive of 15 minutes break).
Our hybrid format offers flexibility and accessibility, combining the benefits of face-to-face interactions with the convenience of online learning.
The curriculum is divided into three core modules:
Module 1: Procurement Access
- Understanding Public and Private Sector Procurement Processes
- Affirmative and Digital Procurement.
- Bid Preparation and Contract Lifecycle Management.
- Procurement Compliance and Legal Considerations
Module 2 – Innovative Financial Inclusion Models for Women Entrepreneurs.
- Access to Capital Microloans, Grants, and Alternative Financing Models
- Business Resilience and Adaptive Financial Strategies
- Financial Planning and Capital Efficiency.
- Tax Compliance and Legal Registration.
Module 3 – Digital Skills Mastery for Women-Led Businesses
- Leveraging Social Media for Business Visibility and Customer Engagement.
- Navigating E-Procurement Platforms and Digital Payment Systems.
- Website Optimization and Digital Marketing Strategies.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
