African women entrepreneurs are making significant strides in breaking barriers and contributing to the continent’s economic growth. Organizations like the Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth (WCW) Programme have been instrumental in this progress. By the end of 2024, the WCW Programme had enrolled over 5,200 women entrepreneurs across six African countries, generating more than 20,000 sustainable jobs through its youth-focused Intergenerational project. With over half of these entrepreneurs under 35, the initiative is strengthening the pipeline of young business leaders. Looking ahead, the programme aims to engage 10,000 women entrepreneurs to generate $1 billion in revenue and create 200,000 jobs over four years, fostering a thriving ecosystem for inclusive entrepreneurship.
In Ethiopia, women are breaking through traditional gender barriers in male-dominated fields like carpentry and construction. Hanna Berhanu, for instance, founded Abyssinia Woodworks PLC, a growing business that manufactures household furniture. With support from the World Bank’s Ethiopia SME Finance Project, Hanna secured financing to purchase modern machinery, improving efficiency and product quality. Her business now employs 75% women, challenging stereotypes about women’s roles in the industry.
Similarly, Addisalem Eshete runs a consultancy firm specializing in road construction design and monitoring. Through the Women Entrepreneurs Development Project (WEDP), she secured financing to purchase a business vehicle, enhancing her competitiveness in the industry. Her business has grown to employ 100 people, demonstrating the impact of targeted support for women entrepreneurs.
In Ghana, Nana Adjoa Sifa Amponsah founded Guzakuza, a social enterprise dedicated to advancing women in agribusiness across Africa. Since its inception in 2015, Guzakuza has directly impacted over 8,000 women across 31 African countries and the diaspora, providing training, mentorship, and support to women farmers and agripreneurs.
Regina Honu, a Ghanaian social entrepreneur and software developer, founded Soronko Solutions and opened Soronko Academy, the first coding and human-centered design school for children and young adults in West Africa. Her work has been recognized globally, including being named by CNN as one of the 12 inspirational women who rock STEM.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. A report by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women highlights that 57% of women entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries have encountered online harassment, and 41% intentionally limit their digital visibility, hindering business growth. The tech industry is urged to implement stronger safety measures to support women entrepreneurs online.
Furthermore, access to capital continues to be a significant barrier. Sarah Dusek, founder of Few & Far, emphasizes that funding for women-led businesses is exceptionally poor. Her organization, Enygma Ventures, has invested $10 million over the last five years to empower women entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In South Africa, Nthabeleng Likotsi has made history as the first woman and youngest globally to establish a Mutual Bank that promotes inclusive development and growth. As the chairperson of the Young Women in Business Network (YWBN) and Managing Director of the YWBN Co-operative Financial Institution, she is dedicated to the economic empowerment of women.
These developments underscore the resilience and determination of African women entrepreneurs in overcoming barriers and driving economic growth across the continent.
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