Women in Digital Business (WiDB) at 1 Million AfCFTA Impact Hub

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Applications are open for Women in Digital Business (WiDB) at 1 Million AfCFTA Impact Hub. Women in Digital Business @ 1 Million AfCFTA Impact Hub is a structured entrepreneurial innovation programme designed to help women-led ventures adopt and adapt their business processes, operational structures, and models to current digital realities and environments.

Brought to you by PABL Solutions LTD through 1 Million AfCFTA Impact Hub in partnership with the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) and fully funded by Microsoft Philanthropies, the programme takes participants on a digital transformation journey through a self-paced online courseware hosted on a dedicated learning management system. Participants also receive hands-on technical assistance and mentorship under the guidance of experienced experts.

Why This Programme Matters:

Across Africa, women entrepreneurs face major digital barriers:

Limited online visibility and discoverability
Fragmented customer communication
Manual, time-consuming business processes
Low access to digital tools and ads
Weak digital confidence
Missed market opportunities
Lack of structured mentorship

These are not just business challenges — they are barriers to inclusive growth.

WiDB at 1 Million AfCFTA Impact Hub Objectives

Digital Empowerment: Equip women entrepreneurs with the practical skills and confidence to leverage technology for visibility, communication, sales, and operations.
Market Integration: Strengthen the capacity of women-led enterprises to participate in the AfCFTA digital marketplace by embracing digital trade tools.
Enterprise Competitiveness: Support the shift from traditional business models to data-driven, customer-centric, and scalable digital operations.
Innovation & Sustainability: Foster innovation within women-led enterprises through adoption of emerging digital tools that enhance productivity and sustainability.
Inclusive Growth: Bridge the digital gender gap by creating equitable access to digital literacy, platforms, and markets for women across Africa.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

Establish a Verified Digital Presence on Google My Business, social media, or online marketplaces.
Leverage Digital Communication Channels for marketing, sales, and customer support using both free and paid tools.
Run Digital Ad Campaigns and apply SEO techniques to improve online visibility and lead generation.
Integrate E-Commerce Solutions such as digital payment systems, delivery logistics, and online customer service tools.
Implement Digital Management Systems including inventory and CRM software to streamline operations.
Develop a Personalized Digital Transformation Roadmap guiding their transition from basic digitization to full digital transformation.
Improve Business Growth Metrics—increased visibility, higher sales conversion rates, improved customer retention, and reduced operational inefficiencies.

WiDB at 1 Million AfCFTA Impact Hub Programme Structure

Phase 1: WiDB Course (3 weeks) + Digital Work Plan + ITCILO Certificate
- Block 1: Welcome to Women in Digital Business
- Block 2: Building an Online Presence
- Block 3: Selling Online
- Block 4: Adapting Other Business Processes
Phase 2 (Optional): ILO SIYB Modules — Generate, Start, or Improve Your Business
- GYB: Generate Your Business Idea
- SYB: Start Your Business
- IYB: Improve Your Business

Important Note

Selection involves: