Deadline: July 18, 2022
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) and the African Development Bank Group’s (AfDB) Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative have teamed up, to improve access to finance and markets for women-owned and women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) in Southern, East, and West Africa.
The new AfDB-funded AWIEF initiative Solutions Catalyzing Increased Access to Capital for Women Entrepreneurs intends to speed up efforts to reduce gender inequality and create inclusive economic transformation.
In eight African countries: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, more than 500 growth-oriented women SMEs will be supported for size, market access, and investor readiness.
The two-year programme will create a profitable pipeline of investable businesses ready to access finance.
Programme Components:
1. The programme is organized under components including AWIEF Growth Accelerator (in partnership with Nedbank) – to enhance investment readiness and increase access to finance.
2. eCommerce Capacity Development (in partnership with UNIDO) – for building knowledge, capacity and skills in digital channels to increase participation and success in online business.
3. Digital Skills (in partnership with Amazon Web Services) – to strengthen WSMEs capacity to embrace technology innovation.
Applications are invited from WSMEs for participation in any one of these programme components:
1. AWIEF Growth Accelerator;
2. eCommerce Capacity Development;
3. Digital Skills
Selection Criteria
- WSMEs registered and operating in: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Priority sectors include Technology, Agriculture & Agribusiness, Creative Industry, eCommerce, Renewable Energy, Manufacturing, Retail, Construction, and Logistics.
Programme Timeline for 2022 Cohort:
Applications open: June 20, 2022
Applications close: July 18, 2022
Recruitment of participants: July – August 2022
Training: September – December 2022.
Click HERE to apply.
