Nairobi, Kenya, August 18, 2023–To support women entrepreneurs across sub–Saharan Africa, IFC today opened applications for its She Wins Africa program, which aims to support the growth of up to 5000 women-led startups with advice, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Through a series of online and in-person workshops and other engagements, She Wins Africa will provide investment readiness training for participants and facilitate connections with potential investors through matchmaking and pitching events.
She Wins Africa, part of IFC's wider strategy to support women entrepreneurs, is open to women-led startups and entrepreneurs operating in sub-Saharan Africa. Women interested in applying to the program should visit the She Wins Africa program page or contact shewinsafrica@ifc.org for more information. Applications close on September 15, 2023.
"African women are highly entrepreneurial yet often lack the support and funding they need to succeed. She Wins Africa aims to rectify this by equipping women with skills, tools, and opportunities to scale their businesses," said Mary Porter Peschka, IFC's Regional Director for Eastern Africa. "IFC is excited to welcome innovative women entrepreneurs to the She Wins Africa program and help them grow their businesses and reach new heights."
She Wins Africa will initially support a group of women-led African startups across various sectors. The program includes a pitch competition for participants and networking opportunities with investors and venture capital firms.
She Wins Africa follows IFC's successful She Wins Arabia program, which has provided training to women entrepreneurs and support to funds and accelerators in the Middle East and North Africa to help them better engage with women-run businesses.
Championing women in the private sector is central to IFC's strategy in Africa, where IFC promotes gender equality and equal access to jobs, assets, and opportunities. IFC provides finance and advisory services to build the ecosystem for dynamic and inclusive entrepreneurship in Africa.
About IFC
IFC—a member of the World Bank —is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
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