Women-led

POUR ELLES Project – Technical and Financial Support to Women Entrepreneurs in the DRC (Kinshasa & Kikwit)

Overview of your opportunity

The POUR ELLES Project is a €2.5 million grant facility implemented by Expertise France to strengthen the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), specifically in Kinshasa and Kikwit.

The programme seeks to reduce gender inequalities by strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and providing structured technical support, financial services, and empowerment pathways to women-led enterprises.

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Business Partners launches Basadi Fund to close gender financing gap

The GEM SA Special Report: Women’s Entrepreneurship in South Africa (2024) shows that women entrepreneurs are exiting their businesses at higher rates than they are starting and running them, with access to finance emerging as a key driver of this attrition. Around 21.5% of women entrepreneurs cite...

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UNDP, UNCDF, DBSA and African Bank launch Township Spark to ignite inclusive growth in South Africa’s township economies

15 December 2025

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and partners including the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and African Bank have officially launched Township Spark, a new blended-finance guarantee...

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Agri-Tech and Aqua-Tech Acceleration Programme

Overview of your opportunity

As part of the UNDP initiative “Leveraging Agri-Tech and AI for Sustainable Agricultural and Export Development in South Africa,” this Acceleration Programme is designed to empower 50 South African Agri-Tech and Aqua-Tech SMEs with a commitment to at least 50% women-led participation. The programme provides technical support, market access, mentorship, growth enablement, and financial investment to pioneering entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Programme Objectives:

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Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) – Call for Proposals

Overview of your opportunity

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), together with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), launches the Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) Call for Proposals, aimed at accelerating socio-economic inclusion, empowerment, and gender equality across selected African regions.

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SHEVolution Summit 2025

The SHEVolution Summit 2025 is a landmark women’s event presented by African Knowledge Solutions, taking place from November 27-28, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. With the theme “Develop. Transform. Lead.,” this game-changing platform unites women leaders from across the public and private...

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Funding Opportunity: FemFocus – Encouraging Women’s Entrepreneurship

Overview of your opportunity

The FemFocus - Encouraging Women’s Entrepreneurship programme, funded by the Government of the Netherlands and administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is designed to accelerate women’s economic empowerment in selected African countries. Targeting civil society organizations (CSOs), FemFocus supports sustainable business growth through substantial financial grants and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives. The programme focuses on two strategic tracks:

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Call for Nominations and Registrations: Dare To Be Awards

The Dare to Be Awards is Bosslanne Magazine’s signature annual event, honoring exceptional social entrepreneurs across South Africa and beyond who boldly lead in business, community development, education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and personal transformation.

Held each year, this prestigious...

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Empowering Women Entrepreneurs with Fempreneurs SA

When Meg Enerson saw a friend struggling to take her business to the next level, she recognised a challenge that other women entrepreneurs face: the overwhelming task of starting and scaling a business. "My friend was trying to build an e-commerce website and manage social media, but the time, cost...

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