Skip to main content

Helpful Networks for Women Entrepreneurs Doing Business in Africa

Though it has become easier for women entrepreneurs to do business in Africa, gender equality remains a challenge. However, according to the World Bank, 50% of all enterprises in Africa are now women owned, and 25% of Africa’s women have set up their own businesses from scratch. (Read more about this on the Lionesses of Africa website.)

Perhaps much of this success is down to the way feminist entrepreneurs support one another on the continent. In this post, I’ll share networks that seek to empower and connect women entrepreneurs in Africa.

Alchemy Women in Leadership (A. WiL), Zambia
Alchemy Women in Leadership (A. WiL) is committed to supporting a higher representation of female leadership in Zambia through capacity development, advocacy and partnerships. The initiative supports both current and future Zambian female leaders by offering training, mentoring, scholarship, and networking opportunities. Its Leadership Academy courses include Women on Board (Board of Directors training tailored for women), Women in Business (training and support for women who are starting/have started out in business), the Alchemy Mentorship Program, and the Advanced Leadership Program – Women, Power and Change. A. WiL also publishes the Women in Leadership Magazine.

Comments from Members:
“With you ladies, it has taken a beautiful chapter of life to complete our dreams together.... What started as motivational class[es] are now the creation[s] of think tanks, leaders, a work force of amazing women…” Rutendo Chilengi on the A.WiL Facebook page

The South African Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Network (SAWEN)
The Western Cape Government-run South African Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Network (SAWEN) is a networking forum for the promotion and socio-economic advancement of women’s entrepreneurship in South Africa. SAWEN offers a range of training to its members, as well as access to monthly meetings, international trade fairs and initiatives, legal advice, business information, and a number of other market access opportunities.

Comments from Members:
“As a member [of the South African Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Network],” says Devlathal Ramthal-Geswindt at Small Business Connect, “I now have access to people in the industry, especially those people in government (Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism) who are already in the process of assisting me to access business opportunities.” Ramthal-Geswindt goes on to say that after a talk she gave at a SEWAL event, she was asked to give a similar talk to members of parliament.

The African Businesswomen’s Network (ABWN):
The African Businesswomen’s Network is a partnership between women business leaders in Africa and local partners, which seeks to accelerate economic growth for women in Africa. The network provides programs and services to businesswomen, such as local and international workshops, mentoring, networking, training, and market access opportunities. Arranged around six hubs, the ABWN includes the Cameroon Businesswomen’s Network; the Eagle Women’s Empowerment Club (Ghana); the Kenya Association of Women Business Owners; Women in Management and Business and Public Service of Nigeria; the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited; and the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa.

Comments from Members:
Yvonne at United Success writes that attending the ABWN Annual Leadership Meeting in Johannesburg was a “deeply enlightening experience” that involved the chance to connect with “the dynamic women that form an integral part of the network share their views and also meet some future UnitedSucces members.” Read more of Yvonne’s comments here.

Other organizations to check out include:
Women Entrepreneurs Development Association of Zambia
The African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (from the U.S. Department of State)
The Diaspora Africa Women’s Network (DAWN)
Fine Women Business Network in South Africa

Also, for younger female entrepreneurs, take a look at tomorrow's post: “Support Networks for Young Women Entrepreneurs Doing Business inAfrica.”

--Chimuka Moore
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Beginner’s Guide to Social Media in Africa for Women Entrepreneurs

Accessibility to social networks may be limited in Africa, but a reported nine percent of the population who do use social media often view it as important and empowering. Given that access to cell phones is widespread in the continent, use of social networks and messaging apps is increasing by the year among businesses, customers, schools, and students . In fact, the 2014 “Emerging Nations Embrace Internet, Mobile Technology” report from the Pew Research Global Attitudes Project (as quoted in ventureafrica.com ) reports that about 78 percent of Africa’s internet usage is for social media. No wonder female entrepreneurs doing business in Africa are using social networks to support each other. In the first of this series of posts for women entrepreneurs looking to use social media in Africa, we’ll review some of the main social networks, as well as how women entrepreneurs are using them.   Social Networks Popular in Africa Facebook long dominated social networking in A...
Post a Comment
Read more

Comments from Social Media Experts (3): Dorie Clark on Creating and Sharing Your Own Content

Recently, I have been reading more and more about the importance of creating your own content. “It’s useful and powerful to be a curator of other people’s good stuff,” explains Dorie Clark at Buffer , “but if you really want to establish an expert reputation, the fast ticket to do that is creating your own content.” It seems that popular ways of creating your own content can include starting your own blog, publishing original posts on a social media platform (like LinkedIn), or having those posts featured on the blogs of others. Clark, author of the popular business book Stand Out , says that by sharing your own thoughts, your customers and clients will start to recognize that you are an expert in your field. Here are three of Clark’s tips to keep in mind when creating and sharing your own content: Live out your brand through your content: “If you want to stand out and get noticed as, for instance, an innovative and connected fashion entrepreneur,” writes Clark at Entrepren...
1 comment
Read more

Miyanda Maimbo Kitawa on Facing Challenges (Wisdom from Africa’s Successful Women Entrepreneurs)

Although gender equality is on the rise in Africa, there are more potential challenges for women entrepreneurs than there are for men. However, it isn’t unusual for successful women in business to attribute their successes to the challenges that they’ve faced. In this post, I share the wisdom of Miyanda Maimbo Kitawa , who set up the first human resources company in Zambia at a time when HR businesses didn’t exist there. As you’ll see, her story contains many lessons for women who are facing the challenges of entrepreneurship, especially those who are just starting out. A tough start doesn’t mean you won’t succeed: When Miyanda Maimbo Katiwa drove to Zambia to start her human resources company, she had only a little money to split between her living expenses and what was needed to launch her venture. Having quit her job and been told by her boss that it was impossible for someone without prior experience to succeed in such a business, she knew she was taking a huge risk. “T...
2 comments
Read more