The Nkwanzi
Scaling Women SMEs Project offers WSME-centered mentorship, coaching,
investment readiness support and facilitates linkages to financial institutions
in the selected countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Type: Capacity
Building
- Target Countries: Burkina
Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe
- Deadline: 30
March 2023
Nkwanzi Scaling Women SMEs project
Nkwanzi Scaling Women SMEs Project (SWSP) is an investment readiness programme that aims to unlock the potential of women-led enterprises through capacity building on fundraising by improving their potential to raise commercial capital.
The programme offers
WSME centered mentorship, coaching, investment readiness support and
facilitates linkages to financial institutions in the selected countries across
Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Nkwanzi project
aims to support 400 WSMEs through self-directed learning on the AECF Academy
platform, one-on-one mentorship and coaching, business assessment for
investment readiness, and facilitation of investments from financial
institutions. The project will be implemented across nine countries – Burkina
Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
The project is
co-funded by the African Development Bank as part of Affirmative Finance Action
for Women in Africa (AFAWA), a pan-African initiative to bridge the US$ 42
billion financing gap facing women in Africa
Eligibility
Criteria
The eligibility
criteria for the Nkwanzi Program are listed as follows:
·
Woman-led businesses in the 9 focus
countries experiencing challenges in accessing finance
·
The main participant and applicant must
be the CEO, Managing Director, Owner, or Founder of the business and must be an
active participant in the program.
·
Generated annual revenue of more than
US$ 50,000 in the last or current financial year.
·
Operational for at least 2 years.
·
Willing to work online – i.e., Must have
a smartphone/laptop with internet connection to access online tools, courses
and online community.
·
Willing to share performance/financial
data as part of finance linkage.
Additional
requirements
·
Focus countries; Burkina Faso, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
·
Sectors of focus; Agribusiness,
Renewable Energy, Financial services, Education, Water & Sanitation,
Tech-driven businesses, Health care.
·
Businesses that directly impact or work
with women.
·
Special consideration will be given to
youth, under the age of 35 years.
*We still encourage
Women SMEs from countries and sectors outside our scope to submit an
application for potential consideration.
Method
of Application
Application
Deadline:
This call for
application will be open from 8th March 2023 to 30th March 2023
For further
information, contact: Nkwanzi@aecfafrica.org
