Applications are currently open for the TEF Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A) Program. The “Women Entrepreneurship for Africa” (WE4A) initiative is jointly supported by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The initiative is executed in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and the German Development Agency GIZ via the E4D program. It targets the empowerment of marginalized communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, encompassing women, youth, and the informal sector. The Acceleration/Growth Programme will be supported by SAFEEM (Swiss Association for Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets)..
The primary objective of the program is to enhance the business capacity of women-led enterprises to increase their likelihood of securing follow-on funding from private sector investors. An additional grant funding of up to €50,000, in conjunction with a growth program, will be awarded to 15 enterprises identified by an expert panel as having significant high-growth potential. This additional program will run for an additional 3 months.
Both the initial acceleration and the follow-on growth programs aim to bolster the success of women entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa, enabling them to contribute to job creation in their communities by enhancing business capabilities, facilitating access to formal financial services, and integrating into local and regional value chains.
Requirements:
– Women entrepreneurs who are part of the TEF alumni network.
– Applicants should have a functional product and, ideally, already possess a customer base.
ACCELERATION PROGRAM FOR STARTUPS
As part of this collaboration, 100 TEF alumna beneficiaries were grouped into eight clusters based on their growth stage and sector, allowing for a more personalized approach to the program. Each cluster is overseen by an Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR), who offers mentorship and assistance throughout the duration of the program.
– Agriculture 1
– Health
– Services
Program Details:
– The program consists of a 3-month acceleration phase, followed by a growth program and technical support for an additional 3 months if selected.
– All training and program-related activities will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Additionally, an online program management and e-learning platform will be available.
For further details,
Application Deadline: March 31st, 2024
