The Women in Digital Business (WiDB) at AM-Steve House Program is a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower African women entrepreneurs to excel in the digital economy. Led by AM-Steve House in partnership with ITC/ILO and Microsoft Philanthropies, WiDB addresses the critical challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly in non-tech Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The program offers a comprehensive curriculum combining the ITCILO Women in Digital Business course, the globally acclaimed ILO Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training, and a tailored Formalization Support Course.
WiDB provides participants with foundational digital skills, from building an online presence to integrating digital tools for e-commerce and operations. The SIYB training guides them through business ideation, planning, and growth strategies, while the Formalization Support Course supports participants in registering their businesses, achieving compliance, and enhancing branding.
The program will train 50,000 women entrepreneurs over three years through a phased implementation model. Starting with a pilot phase for 500 women across Africa, it will scale to 5,000 during the incubation phase and eventually reach 50,000 in the full-scale rollout. This model ensures personalized learning, community-building, and incremental impact.
Participants receive fully funded training, one-on-one coaching, and financial support for business formalization, including registration, tax compliance, and branding. Top-performing participants gain additional benefits like investment readiness training and access to capital opportunities.
Open to women aged 18–60 from Africa’s 55 countries, WiDB creates a community of like-minded entrepreneurs committed to sustainable business growth. With its focus on empowerment, innovation, and formalization, WiDB is the key to unlocking entrepreneurial success in Africa’s digital-first economy.
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 is given to those leading or planning to launch non-tech MSMEs.
Number of Awardees:
50,000 women entrepreneurs will be trained over three years, starting with 500 participants in the pilot phase.
Value of Scholarship:
Fully funded training and coaching.
Financial support for business formalization, including registration, tax compliance, and branding.
Access to investment readiness training and capital call opportunities for top performers.
Duration of Training:
Each cohort of the training will span a duration of 12 weeks
Training period varies per phase and cohort but is part of a three-year program rollout.
How to Apply:
Applications will be made online. Detailed application guidelines and forms will be available on the AM-Steve House platform.
Deadline: Rolling
Click HERE to Apply
