- Global development leaders – the EU, OACPS, BMZ, GIZ and TEF – are strengthening their partnership to empower African women for a sustainable future.
/PRNewswire/ — The European Union (EU), the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) today announced the launch of the second cohort of the program Investing in young businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA-WE4A).
Over 1,000 women-led businesses to receive funding under second cohort of IYBA-WE4A program (PRNewsfoto/The Tony Elumelu Foundation)
Following the success of the first cohort, which enabled 751 green businesses run by African women to benefit from $3.99 million in fundingpartners are amplifying their impact to support more than 1000 African women entrepreneurs who develop innovative solutions in essential green sectors.
Applications are open from today, October 6, 2025, until January 25, 2026. Successful applicants will receive seed capital of $5,000, tailored business management training, a personalized green program, mentoring and lifetime access to TEFConnect for sustained growth and investment readiness. Targeted sectors include sustainable agriculture, blue economy, renewable energy, circular economy, ecotourism, construction and logistics.
- 5000USD of non-refundable boot capital to grow their business.
- Comprehensive business management trainingas part of the TEF entrepreneurship program, including a personalized green program.
- Mentorship and lifetime access to the TEFConnect digital platform, enabling sustained growth, investment readiness and follow-on financing.
- Specialized masterclasses hosted by industry experts on finance, resilience, digital growth, leadership and expansion hosted by experts and entrepreneurs.
Through this initiative, the EU, OACPS, BMZ, GIZ and TEF reaffirm their shared commitment to gender-focused economic empowerment and sustainable development, reducing Africa’s environmental impact and advancing the EU Gender Action Plan (GAPIII).
“At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we have seen first-hand the transformative power of supporting women entrepreneurs. Having successfully implemented the first cohort, we look forward to increasing our impact to further empower African women-led businesses,” said Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation. “This partnership continues to accelerate Africa’s green and inclusive economy and demonstrates the limitless potential of African women when given the right support.”
“The private sector plays a key role in fighting poverty, equality and promoting social change,” added Romina Kochius, WE4D program director. “With a project of this scale, we are supposed to create this change.”
Submit your application now at www.TEFConnect.com before the deadline of January 25, 2026.
About the European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is based on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote the sustainable development of societies, the environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
About the Tony Elumelu Foundation
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropic organization supporting a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving the eradication of poverty, catalyzing job creation across Africa’s 54 countries, and strengthening women’s economic empowerment. Since the launch of the TEF entrepreneurship program, the Foundation has lifted more than 2 million Africans out of poverty, enabled more than 2.5 million young Africans to access training on its digital platform, TEFConnect, and has disbursed more than $100 million in direct funding to 24,000 Africans, who have collectively created more than 1,500,000 direct and indirect jobs, and generated more than 4.2 billion dollars in revenue. The Foundation’s mission is anchored in Africapitalism, which makes the private sector, and especially entrepreneurs, the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.
About GIZ
As a service provider for international cooperation for sustainable development and international education, GIZ is working to build a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide range of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and environment, and peace and security.
The German government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector and governments of other countries all benefit from our services. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering fruitful interaction between development policy and other policy and activity areas. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is our main sponsor.
About the IYBA WE4A
The multi-donor action and Team Europe initiative Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women’s Entrepreneurship for Africa (TEI IYBA WE4A) is co-financed by the European Union (EU), the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the BMZ-funded multi-donor project Promoting Women’s Employment for Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D).
IYBA’s WE4A program directly contributes to increasing women’s economic participation and gender equality. The overall objective (impact) of the IYBA WE4A program is to create sustainable, inclusive and green growth in a range of African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda). The specific objective (outcome) of the program is: strengthening the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs in sectors contributing to the green transformation in selected sub-Saharan countries. Furthermore, the program aims to create and secure existing jobs in supported women-led businesses, build their capacity and foster their growth.
For more information about the IYBA WE4A program and to apply, visit www.TEFConnect.com.
For any inquiries, media are asked to contact
Moyo Awotile
Email: [emailprotected]
Tel.: +234 809 975 1482
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2806481/WE4A_French.jpg
