Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth – Intergenerational (WCW-I)

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Graça Machel Trust is excited to announce the expansion of the Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth -Intergenerational (WCW-I) edition in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The program aims to transform Africa’s economies through meaningful support to women entrepreneurs to enable them to grow and in so doing, uplift their communities and productive exchange and collaboration between women.

Africa stands as a global leader in female entrepreneurship, with women constituting 58% of the continent’s self-employed population. Despite this, a recent World Bank report, ‘Profiting from Parity’, reveals that women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa face challenges in achieving substantial profits and scaling their businesses. The pivotal role of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in Africa cannot be overstated; these businesses are vital engines for job creation, economic growth, and poverty reduction. In diverse sectors such as agriculture, technology, and services, SMMEs contribute to skill development and inclusive progress.

Women Creating Wealth (WCW) is the Trust’s flagship entrepreneurship program designed to build women entrepreneurs’ confidence, skills, and networks to scale their businesses and transition from income generation to wealth and job creation. The program has already impacted 2000 women entrepreneurs in Malawi, Zambia Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal and Uganda.

Their big audacious goal for WCW is to expand it and reach 10,000 businesswomen who are inspired and equipped to create $1 billion (USD) in turnover and 200,000 employment opportunities in 5 years.

They are calling on young and established women entrepreneurs with a vision and ambition to grow their business 10X (times) in the next 5 years and create job opportunities to join their Pan-African Businesswomen Movement!

Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth Benefits

Applicants will receive:

Structured training on the WCW Online Ignite courses
Dedicated support through customized coaching, mentoring and technical advice
Support to develop your toolbox of resources for growth
Access to a vibrant and supportive Business Community
Invitation to regular entrepreneurship networking events and round tables to build social capital
Access to a pool of rated service providers to support growth, access to markets and finance.

Eligibility criteria for Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth

Young and established women who are operating a business in at least one of the following countries at the date of application:
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Senegal
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Zambia
Age: 18years and above.
Must have completed secondary school education.
Have an annual business turnover of between USD 10,000 to USD 500,000 or the equivalent of the local currency.
Have business experience of at least 2 years of operating any form of business.
You are not presently engaged in another entrepreneurship support program lasting longer than a week.
Your business currently employs a minimum of 5 young people and demonstrates the potential to expand further, creating additional job opportunities for the youth.
Have an operational business or a product/service that can be tested in the market with the potential for growth and impact.
Businesses can be sole proprietorships, partnerships, companies, cooperatives, or groups.
Business must fall within any of the following sectors:
- Agriculture
- Tourism
- Manufacturing and Value addition
- Transport and Infrastructure
- Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
- Building & Construction
- Trade and services
- Renewable Energy/Green Energy