• The support program dubbed “She Wins Africa” is expected to expands from 100 to 1,000 women entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Program mobile.sed over USD 4 million in start-up financing in its first phase, Herconomy and Eco Charge Limited are among the beneficiaries.

• Women represent 26% of entrepreneurs in Africa, driving inclusive economic growth.

An additional 900 women-led small and growing businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa are poised to benefit from the She Wins Africa program, an initiative designed and rolled out by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the foundation (ASR Africa), created and chaired by Abdul Samad Rabiu, the second richest person in Nigeria after Aliko Dangote.

“We realized that 100 is just the beginning for a region like Africa. When you look at the impact it created and the kind of access to capital and markets it gave to those women entrepreneurs, you see this is a program worth scaling. Now we’re moving from 100 to 1,000, and we’re doing it strategically through segmentation—from startups to growth-stage and scale-up companies”, both organisations said in a joined press release published on February 6

Several women entrepreneurs in the region are already expanding operations and accessing new markets through the inaugural program. Participants in this first cohort include Advantage Health Africa, a health‑tech company using digital platforms and pharmacy networks to expand access to affordable medicines; Sulma Wholefoods, a Kenyan social enterprise supporting sustainable farming by providing inputs, market linkages, and climate‑smart agricultural solutions to smallholder farmers; and Onion Doctor, an agribusiness that supplies drought‑tolerant seedlings, soil testing, and smart irrigation solutions to improve onion and garlic yields in arid regions.

These companies have leveraged the program's structured business development support, targeted mentorship, and investor linkages to strengthen operations, scale production, and attract external capital, demonstrating the tangible impact of tailored investment readiness initiatives on women-led enterprises across Africa. This is included in

The first phase of She Wins Africa selected 100 women‑led start-ups from thousands of applicants across the region. During this phase, participants collectively mobilised more than USD 4 million in financing from external investors and partners. This funding was secured through a combination of technical assistance, targeted advisory support, investor engagement, and catalytic grant envelopes, which helped reduce risk for private capital providers and accelerate business expansion.

Officials leading the program emphasise the broader economic implications. Marieme Niang Camara, IFC’s Regional Gender Lead for Africa, said: “When you look at the impact it created and the kind of access to capital and markets it gave to those women entrepreneurs, you see this is a program worth scaling. Now we’re moving from 100 to 1,000, and we’re doing it strategically, from start-ups to growth-stage and scale-up companies.” Dr Ubon Udoh, MD/CEO of ASR Africa, added: “This expansion will create a more sustainable impact and extend the program’s geographical reach. What these women do is not just for individual countries; it strengthens the economy of the whole continent.”

She Wins Africa delivers a range of technical services designed to strengthen business fundamentals. These include business coaching, investment‑readiness training, tailored advisory support beyond standard training modules, and investor matchmaking that connected startups with potential backers. In the first phase, the program provided 123 hours of structured technical support, facilitated 275 connections between founders and investors across regional and international markets, and mobilized 100 mentors to work directly with participating entrepreneurs.

The program’s initial cohort exceeded early expectations, with 17 women‑led enterprises securing external financing and others positioning themselves for greater growth. The initiative’s next phase has expanded its reach from 100 to 1,000 women entrepreneurs across multiple African markets. This expanded phase aims to support both early‑stage ventures and growth‑stage companies with tailored technical support, investment facilitation and strategic mentorship, deepening regional reach and strengthening the pipeline of investment‑ready women‑led businesses.

She Wins Africa operates within a broader context of female entrepreneurial activity in Africa, where women account for a significant share of business formation. According to data from the MasterCard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, approximately 26 % of women in Sub‑Saharan Africa are engaged in starting or running businesses, and women represent about 58 % of the region’s self‑employed population. Programs like She Wins Africa seek to translate this high level of entrepreneurial activity into sustainable, scalable enterprises by addressing financing gaps and providing structured support that aligns with investor expectations and market opportunities.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang