Award-winning pan-African non-profit organisation founded in 2015, dedicated to women’s economic empowerment. Granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). AWIEF’s mission is to foster women’s economic inclusion, advancement, and empowerment through entrepreneurship support and development. The organisation provides capacity-building, training, and business skills development to help women-owned businesses scale and become more competitive. Hosts annual international AWIEF Conference, Exhibition, and Awards. Partners with African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and FSDH Merchant Bank Limited to implement accelerator program aligned with African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative. Applications can be saved and edited up until the deadline
Focus Areas:
Multi-sector with Priority for:
- Technology-based and tech-enabled businesses
- Agriculture (AgTech)
- Health (HealthTech)
- Education (EdTech)
- Creative Industry
- Financial Services (FinTech)
- Renewable Energy (CleanTech)
- Logistics
- Climate-smart solutions
- Products/services that enhance the well-being of women/girls
- Gender equity-driven ventures
- Innovative and scalable ventures across catalytic sectors
Target
- Women-owned and women-led Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (WSMEs)
- Early-growth-stage businesses seeking to scale
- 100 beneficiaries per cohort
- Women entrepreneurs and founders in Nigeria
- Post-revenue stage businesses
- Ambitious and committed women entrepreneurs seeking investment, credit, or financing
Focus Areas
- The program facilitates access to business loans and credit from FSDH Merchant Bank Limited
- Loan amounts not specified – determined based on business creditworthiness after program
- Uses AGF AFAWA Guarantee to support loan access
- Target businesses: Annual turnover between NGN 10-500 million (approximately USD $6,500 – $325,000)
- 12-month program (not funding amount)
- Previous partnerships (e.g., Victoria’s Secret) provided direct support to 20 selected businesses
Eligibility Criteria
MUST MEET AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
51% share of women ownership OR business founded by a woman
At least 20% share of women in senior management OR 10% share of women on the Board
Product(s) or service(s) enhance well-being of women/girls and/or drive gender equity
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (ALL MUST BE MET):
- Based and operating in Nigeria (registered in Nigeria)
- Post-revenue stage (generating revenue)
- In operation for not less than 3 years
- Annual turnover: NGN 10-500 million (approximately USD $6,500-$325,000)
- Highly innovative and scalable ventures
- Owned and/or led by ambitious and committed entrepreneurs
- Seeking investment, credit, or financing to scale and expand
- Business must be adequately prepared or willing to prepare to meet FSDH Merchant Bank’s credit requirements
