African Women Network

Author: Milcah K

  • Absa Ghana launches She Business initiative to empower women-owned businesses

    Absa Ghana launches She Business initiative to empower women-owned businesses

    Absa Ghana has launched “She Business,” a comprehensive banking initiative designed to empower and support women-owned enterprises throughout the country.

    In collaboration with partners such as Mastercard, Hollard Insurance, Telecel Ghana, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, and DHL, the She Business program is aimed to offer women entrepreneurs access to collateral-free loans of up to GH₵2 million, alongside a suite of valuable resources including advisory services, tailored business insurance, networking opportunities, international business trips, and market expansion initiatives.

    This groundbreaking initiative is a pivotal component of Absa’s broader strategy to address Ghana’s daunting $6.1 billion credit gap affecting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

    Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway, Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana Ltd., emphasized the significance of the launch, stating, “Today’s launch is not merely an update to our offerings; it is a definitive statement of our commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs to capitalize on legitimate business prospects. For us, this marks a vital opportunity to implement a robust support system that enables MSMEs to flourish.”

    The introduction of She Business builds on the success of EMERGE, Absa’s previous program tailored for women-led enterprises, which successfully disbursed over GH₵800 million in funding. The revamped initiative not only enhances access to financial resources but also integrates extensive advisory services, comprehensive business insurance, avenues for market access, and international trade opportunities, ensuring a holistic approach to fostering business growth for women.

    Furthermore, Absa is committed to providing collateralized loans up to $1 million for established SME customers, including women-owned businesses, who are poised for further scaling. This financial support aims to bolster the growth trajectories of these enterprises, enabling them to thrive in increasingly competitive markets.

    Audrey Abakah, Director of SME Banking and Partnerships at Absa Bank Ghana, highlighted the strategic evolution of the updated offering. “Our approach is driven by the insights we’ve gleaned from women entrepreneurs about what they value the most: practical support, affordable credit options, and a banking partner that recognizes their immense potential and stands by them throughout every stage of their growth journey. She Business is meticulously crafted to address these critical needs.”

    Additionally, Gottfried Odamtten-Sowah, Head of Entrepreneurship Development at the Mastercard Foundation Ghana, expressed pride in collaborating with Absa Ghana on this significant initiative. “It is an honor for the Mastercard Foundation to partner with Absa Ghana in this endeavor. We are dedicated to forming strategic alliances that address the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and create sustainable pathways that empower young women and their businesses to thrive.”

    Highlighting the program’s commitment to representation and leadership, Grace Amey-Obeng, Founder and CEO of FC Group of Companies; Abigail Amma Afriyie Abora, CEO of Aide Chemists Ltd; and Freda Sarkodie Donkor, CEO of FH Depot, were officially introduced as the Champions of Absa She Business, symbolizing the bank’s dedication to uplifting women entrepreneurs and celebrating their contributions to the economy.

  • KEWOPA to fund programs that promote food security and women’s empowerment

    KEWOPA to fund programs that promote food security and women’s empowerment

    The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) is a membership organization comprising all women parliamentarians from various political parties, both elected and nominated, in the Senate and National Assembly.

    KEWOPA is dedicated to funding programs that promote food security and women’s empowerment. One of its initiatives, the Mama Kitchen Gardens, led by First Lady Rachel Ruto, teaches women across the nation how to grow their food, enhance nutrition at home, and generate income from surplus produce.

    KEWOPA Chairperson Hon. Leah Sankaire, the Women Representative for Kajiado, highlighted the importance of community networks in advancing this initiative. With strong local connections, KEWOPA aims to lead the effort in encouraging more households to adopt kitchen gardens as a sustainable solution to food insecurity.

    Organized by the State Department for Livestock Development, the initiative is expanding across the country. Over 20 female MPs have renewed their support, along with Principal Secretary Dr. Rono Kipronoh. KEWOPA remains committed to advocating for policies and programs that foster lasting change in society.

    Challenges in achieving food security

    Kenya faces significant challenges in achieving food security, with a large portion of the population experiencing food insecurity, particularly in rural and arid/semi-arid regions. This situation is exacerbated by factors such as climate change, poverty, and inefficient food systems.

    As of early 2025, about 2.2 million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 266,000 classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). The food security situation is expected to worsen in the coming months, with an increase in the number of people facing acute food insecurity. Pastoral areas in Turkana, Marsabit, and Garissa counties are anticipated to experience crisis conditions due to below-average short rains. Between October 2024 and May 2025, it is estimated that 2.5 to 2.99 million people will require humanitarian assistance.

    Key Challenges:

    High Food Insecurity: Approximately 32% of Kenyans live below the food poverty line, with the highest rates found in rural areas.

    Malnutrition: Malnutrition is a serious concern, particularly among children, with high rates of stunting (impaired development due to malnutrition), especially in rural communities.

    Climate Change: Irregular rainfall, droughts, and floods adversely affect agricultural production, leading to food shortages and rising prices.

    Underperforming Food Systems: Inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance for smallholder farmers, and post-harvest losses all contribute to food insecurity.

    Population Growth: The rapid population growth in Kenya strains limited resources, including land, water, and food.

    Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs): Much of Kenya consists of arid and semi-arid land, making agriculture highly dependent on unpredictable rainfall, which worsens food insecurity in these areas.

    Refugee Crisis: Kenya hosts a large number of refugees, many of whom are located in food-insecure regions, adding to the strain on resources.

    Gender Inequality: Households headed by women are more likely to face food insecurity compared to those headed by men.

    Interventions and Policies:
    Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP): This policy serves as a comprehensive framework for enhancing food security and nutrition in Kenya.

    Strategic actions to tackle malnutrition in the country
    Strategic Grain Reserve: The government is working to establish a strategic grain reserve to address potential food shortages.
    Agricultural Extension Services: Providing farmers with access to information and resources is essential for improving agricultural practices.
    Addressing Climate Change: Investing in climate-resilient agriculture and water management is crucial for ensuring long-term food security.
    Improving Infrastructure: Enhancing roads and storage facilities will help reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access.
    Financial Inclusion: Ensuring that smallholder farmers have access to credit and other financial services can empower them to invest in their farms.
    Addressing Gender Inequality: Empowering women and addressing gender disparities are vital for enhancing food security.
    WFP Initiatives: The World Food Programme is engaged in long-term initiatives that aim to tackle the root causes of hunger and build community resilience.

    Additionally, the “Mama Kitchen Garden Initiative” led by First Lady Rachel Ruto aims to establish two million kitchen gardens across one million households and schools, contributing to improved food and nutrition security.

  • African Development Bank Group approves $50 million trust fund to end school-age hunger in Africa

    African Development Bank Group approves $50 million trust fund to end school-age hunger in Africa

    The African Development Bank Group has approved the establishment of a fund aimed at ending hunger and malnutrition among school-age children in Africa.

    The End School-Age Hunger Fund (ESAH) was approved on March 20, with the goal of enhancing school meal programs in targeted African countries. This fund will expand existing initiatives and create new ones to ensure that more children in Africa have access to nutritious food while attending school, while also boosting rural economies through increased agricultural productivity.

    The fund will be implemented in collaboration with the African Development Fund, which is the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group. The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is also involved and has demonstrated its commitment by signing a $50 million letter of commitment to establish the Fund.

    In September 2024, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the African Development Bank signed a letter of intent, during which the CIFF agreed to provide up to $50 million for the creation of the End School-Age Hunger Fund. This agreement was witnessed by His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho, an African Leaders for Nutrition Champion and African Union Nutrition Champion. Additionally, the Foundation expressed its willingness to contribute another $50 million to the Fund once the Bank has made its initial contribution. The Foundation is also focused on supporting broader resource mobilization efforts to attract more donors to the Fund. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank is looking to engage other philanthropic organizations, like the Aliko Dangote Foundation, to strengthen the Fund’s donor base.

    The End School-Age Hunger Fund will support activities that directly contribute to school food initiatives across the continent. It aims to ensure the provision of nutritious meals to children while promoting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises that provide services related to these programs. When appropriate, the Fund is expected to provide essential technical assistance to governments, encouraging them to prioritize nutritious school feeding programs as a crucial mechanism for enhancing socio-economic development, improving student retention in schools, and boosting learning outcomes and social protection.

    “The End School-Age Hunger Fund will aim for a five-year commitment from the targeted countries, which is the standard implementation period for the Bank’s investment projects,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development at the African Development Bank Group. “This implementation period is long enough to establish a solid proof of concept, ensuring the continuation of the initiative beyond the initial funding phase.”

    The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation is the world’s largest philanthropic organization dedicated specifically to improving the lives of children. Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has received voluntary contributions and donations totaling over $2.4 billion. Over the past ten years, its endowment has grown to a value of $6 billion (as of 2020), highlighting the significant potential it offers for harnessing resources.

  • Women in Sudan face miscarriage and delivery complications due to the ongoing war

    Women in Sudan face miscarriage and delivery complications due to the ongoing war

    In remote areas of Sudan, many women give birth at home, relying on traditional methods due to a severe lack of healthcare facilities. In Darfur, few centers remain operational, forcing pregnant women to undertake day-long journeys on foot or by donkey to seek care. This often results in complications, miscarriages, or deaths.

    Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) operates in 10 of Sudan’s 18 states and observes the grave impact of the ongoing conflict on women’s health. In West and Central Darfur, women frequently seek medical help only after complications arise, putting their lives and their babies’ lives at significant risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that over 70 percent of health facilities in conflict areas like Darfur are closed or barely operational.

    One tragic case involved a mother who bled heavily after giving birth at home. Despite her family’s desperate effort to rush her to the hospital after a day of walking, she did not survive. The war has severely affected the health of pregnant women, leading to malnutrition and preterm births. Many infants are admitted to hospitals to ensure their survival.

    “The biggest challenge is providing food for my children,” says a mother at Murnei hospital, where MSF provides essential support. Zalingei hospital is the only facility available for specialized care for about 500,000 people in the area, performing over 40 emergency caesarean sections monthly.

    After suffering severe abdominal pain at home, Afaf Omar Yahya traveled hours on a donkey to Zalingei hospital, where she learned she had miscarried and required an emergency caesarean section. “Losing the baby was my greatest heartbreak,” she shared during her recovery.

    Women across Darfur face similar difficulties, often developing severe complications from home births. The lack of basic healthcare facilities means many rely on far-off hospitals. “Most health facilities are now empty buildings with no staff or medications,” says Osanatu Sento Bangura from Murnei hospital.

    Many complications could have been prevented with adequate antenatal care, but most facilities have been out of service since the war began.

    Twelve days after giving birth at home, Sameera visited the Romalia mobile clinic in West Darfur with a high fever and an infected arm. After conducting tests, the clinic team treated her infection, highlighting the ongoing healthcare crisis in the region.

  • Empowering Rural Women Farmers in Africa

    Empowering Rural Women Farmers in Africa

    Across Africa, millions of women work on farms with minimal financial returns, despite their vital role in food security. These women face numerous challenges, including exploitative middlemen, unstable markets, limited access to credit, and restrictive trade policies.

    Recent investigations have highlighted these issues. A BBC News report uncovered cases of sexual harassment and low wages in Kenya’s flower industry, while The Guardian focused on efforts to conserve indigenous seeds that could help women address food insecurity and climate change.

    Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, African Union Special Envoy for Food Systems, explains that many small-scale farmers struggle due to intermediaries who dictate prices. Middlemen often pay women farmers 30-50% below market value, keeping them economically vulnerable. Additionally, women access less than 10% of available agricultural credit, limiting their ability to invest in quality inputs.

    Land ownership remains a significant barrier, with only 15% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa owning land, which hampers their ability to secure loans for expansion. Unstable markets force women to sell at low prices, and post-harvest losses are estimated at 30-40%.

    Though women make up 70% of informal traders in some regions, they face bureaucratic hurdles and lack the necessary capital to compete in high-value markets.

    To address these challenges, a multi-faceted approach is needed. Women should form or join cooperatives to negotiate better prices and access digital marketplaces. Governments and NGOs must create gender-responsive credit facilities, like collateral-free loans, and provide financial literacy training.

    Legal reforms promoting equal land ownership rights are crucial to enable women to invest in their farms. Additionally, enhancing participation in regional markets and simplifying trade regulations can empower women and improve their economic conditions. By tackling these barriers, we can help rural women farmers thrive and contribute to food security and economic development in Africa.

  • inDrive Pledges to Recruit Over 400 Women Drivers, Advancing Gender Equality in Ride-Hailing

    inDrive Pledges to Recruit Over 400 Women Drivers, Advancing Gender Equality in Ride-Hailing

    Global mobility leader inDrive has made a significant pledge to recruit over 400 women drivers in Cape Town, marking a bold step toward fostering gender equality in the ever-evolving ride-hailing landscape.

    This initiative comes at a critical time, as South Africa grapples with a persistently high unemployment rate—35% of women were unemployed in the last quarter of 2024. “We recognize the unique challenges that women face in accessing employment opportunities in South Africa,” stated Ashif Black, Country Representative at inDrive South Africa. “Our commitment to increasing female driver participation is just one way we aim to create more equitable opportunities. Additionally, passengers will have the option to select female drivers, giving them greater control over their ride experience and empowering women in the industry.”

    With a mission that seeks to impact 1 billion people globally by challenging injustices, inDrive is fully dedicated to enhancing female representation in South Africa’s e-hailing industry while creating transformative economic opportunities for women. This International Women’s Month, inDrive is taking an inspiring leap towards greater inclusivity by setting an ambitious target to onboard over 400 female drivers in Cape Town. By generating more earning opportunities for women and addressing the rising demand for female drivers, this initiative aims to cultivate a more diverse and equitable ride-hailing environment. Increasing the number of women behind the wheel is a pivotal move toward economic empowerment and building a more inclusive mobility landscape.

    Recent research has illuminated a compelling insight: over 80% of e-hailing passengers express a preference for female drivers when given the choice. These findings highlight the urgent need for greater female participation in the industry, ensuring that all passengers enjoy a more inclusive, trustworthy, and fulfilling mobility experience.

    Beyond merely promoting economic empowerment, inDrive’s initiative enhances trust and confidence in South Africa’s ride-hailing services by offering passengers—particularly women—an expanded array of choices. As the company steadfastly pursues its global mission to challenge injustice, create meaningful opportunities, and redefine fair mobility, it remains resolutely committed to driving gender equality throughout the transport sector.

  •  JA Africa launches campaign to empower 10 Million girls across Africa

     JA Africa launches campaign to empower 10 Million girls across Africa

    Simi Nwogugu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Junior Achievement (JA) Africa, has launched a strategic initiative aimed at empowering ten million girls throughout Africa with essential skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, and advocacy.

    Dubbed , 10 Million African Girls campaign, the initiative seeks to promote sustainable communities, address extreme poverty, and mitigate instances of gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa.

    The 10 Million African Girls campaign represents a significant call to action directed toward governments, corporations, foundations, civil society organizations, and individuals globally. It invites collaboration with JA Africa to enhance access to quality education and economic opportunities for girls and young women residing in marginalized communities.

    The campaign is poised to tackle critical challenges including the high rates of child marriage and adolescent pregnancies prevalent across the continent. Notably, in West and Central Africa, only 33% of girls complete high school, and one in seven, or some regions, three in ten girls are married before reaching the age of 14. Moreover, young women who attain education and establish businesses often face considerable obstacles in securing the necessary financing for growth; a mere 2% of venture capital funding in Africa was allocated to women-led start-ups in 2024.

    The campaign’s launch coincided with a graduation ceremony for 52 girls from seven African nations—Eswatini, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—who participated in the LEAD Camp held in Accra during the first week of March. LEAD stands for Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement, and Development. This week-long program is designed to equip high-achieving girls with the tools essential for effective leadership in their communities and nations.

    Sponsored by Delta Air Lines, the camp featured female volunteers from the airline as well as accomplished women from various sectors, who served as role models and reinforced JA Africa’s commitment to cultivating mindsets and skill sets conducive to future success for each participant.

    Tad Hutcheson, Managing Director of Community Engagement at Delta Air Lines, stated, “We take great pride in supporting the LEAD Camp and the 10 Million African GirlS campaign, which symbolizes a critical step toward empowering young girls across Africa.”

    Empowering Young Women through Education and Opportunity

    The 10 Million African Girls initiative, conceived by Simi Nwogugu as part of her fellowship with the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), is strategically designed to secure funding and support for various programs aimed at empowering young girls and women. In conjunction with JA’s existing programs, the campaign will also endorse initiatives from other nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving marginalized girls across the continent.

    The official launch of the 10 Million African Girls campaign took place on March 8, 2025, in Accra, Ghana, alongside a certification ceremony that inducted LEAD Camp participants as the inaugural cohort of the 10 Million African Girls network. This network will provide ongoing mentorship, resources, and opportunities to facilitate the advancement of their leadership and entrepreneurial journeys.

    Simi Nwogugu asserted, “Africa cannot realize its full potential if half of its youth population is denied access to quality education and economic engagement opportunities. The objective of the 10 Million African Girls campaign is to mobilize action that equips young women with the tools necessary to drive economic growth and elevate themselves and their communities out of poverty. They will assume leadership roles that enable them to create essential social safety nets for subsequent generations. We extend an invitation to businesses, governments, NGOs, and individuals who share this vision to join us in developing an Africa where all young people, regardless of gender, can realize their full potential.”

    Through this campaign, JA Africa aims to inspire and prepare young individuals throughout the continent to succeed within a global economy.

    By providing hands-on, immersive learning experiences in critical areas such as work readiness, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, sustainability, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), economics, citizenship, and ethics, the organization empowers young individuals to advance their entrepreneurial ideas, refine their workforce skills, manage their finances effectively, and secure improved futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.

    JA Africa operates in 23 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and reaches over one million youth annually, thereby making a significant impact on their lives and futures.

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