The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), has together with its partners, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the European Union (EU) launched the second instalment of the Women Entrepreneurs for Africa (WE4A) initiative.
The initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs across the continent by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and mentorship to succeed in today's dynamic business landscape.
The official launch of the second instalment of the WE4A initiative took place at the Ugandan Business Forum, a platform dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth in Uganda and beyond.
The event brought together key stakeholders, government officials, business leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs to celebrate the potential of women-led businesses in driving sustainable development.
The WE4A initiative is designed to bolster the economic inclusion and empowerment of African women who own or aspire to establish green businesses.
By leveraging partnerships and resources, WE4A aims to enhance not only the entrepreneurial capacity of African women but also to create more job opportunities within African economies.
The initiative will provide essential support such as access to funding, market opportunities, knowledge enrichment, and technical training tailored to women entrepreneurs in Africa, particularly in the green sector.
According to officials, women who are running businesses or have business ideas in sustainable agriculture and agricultural processing, blue economy and aquaculture, renewable energy, circular economy and waste management including biomass, and eco-tourism are welcome to apply for the initiative.
Building on the success of the pilot WE4A programme, which empowered 120 women entrepreneurs across Africa with seed capital funding of EUR30,000 - EUR50,000, business training and technical workshops, mentoring, and market linkages, the second instalment seeks to expand its reach and impact by empowering a minimum of 3000 women with green businesses or green business ideas in each of the eight participating countries.
This second instalment of the programme will be implemented in Senegal, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, Cameroon, and Togo.
Selected participants for this year’s programme will receive the TEF Business Management training, a bespoke green economy and digital inclusion training, mentorship, and a non-refundable seed-funding grant of USD$5,000.
They also get life-time access to networking opportunities, additional funding possibilities, and will be integrated into the TEF Alumni network upon completion of the programme.
Speaking about the initiative, Faith KWERA , the country president of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Uganda emphasised the critical role of women in driving sustainable development across Africa.
"At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we are committed to empowering African entrepreneurs, particularly women entrepreneurs and unlocking their full potential as drivers of economic growth and social progress. By investing in African women entrepreneurs, especially those in the green sector, we can unlock immense potential for sustainable growth and prosperity across Africa, helping to create more employment opportunities across the continent."
Officials said the launch of the second instalment of the WE4A initiative underscores the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the European Union (EU)’s unwavering dedication to promoting gender equality and women's economic empowerment in Africa.
"By harnessing the power of entrepreneurship, the initiative aims to create opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully to the continent's development agenda."
Officials said women entrepreneurs in Senegal, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, Cameroon, and Togo are invited to seize this opportunity to unleash their entrepreneurial potential and become agents of change in their communities.