NextBillion - A WDI Publication

The Leading Platform for Women Entrepreneurship in Africa

Where Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem connects and leads change
AWIEF returns in 2026 as Africa’s premier platform for women in entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation — convening the continent’s most influential entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, policymakers, and ecosystem builders.

Under the theme “Beyond Access: Owning Capital, Markets & Power,” AWIEF2026 shifts the conversation from participation to ownership — exploring how women can move beyond access to resources toward greater control of capital, stronger market positioning, and influence in economic decision-making.

Bringing together a high-level conference and a dynamic exhibition, AWIEF2026 creates a powerful space where ideas, business, and opportunity meet. From thought-provoking discussions and practical insights to solution-driven showcases and strategic partnerships, the event is designed to accelerate collaboration, unlock new markets, and drive inclusive growth across Africa.

For 17 years, the Sustainable Innovation Forum has brought business into the heart of the COP. At COP31 in Türkiye, its role is clearer than ever:engaging corporate leaders and investors and connecting them with the policymakers and subnational leaders who shape the conditions for delivery on the ground.

Taking place on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November in the Climate Action Innovation Zone at the Sueno Hotels Deluxe Belek Convention & Meeting Center in Antalya, Türkiye. The Sustainable Innovation Forum opens the arc of high-level engagement at COP31, ahead of the COP Presidency’s World Leaders Summit and COP31 Business Summit. Its programme is structured around the six thematic axes of the Global Climate Action Agenda, within which the COP31 Presidency’s 10 Priority Themes sit and is designed to showcase success, facilitate collaboration and accelerate delivery pathways. Sessions will demonstrate proof of progress, projects underway, capital deployed, measurable results – and identify where expertise, technology, investment and operational capacity are needed to scale implementation. The mainstage plenary will be complemented by track stages and deep dive roundtables, creating space for every mode of engagement. From headline interviews and high-level panels to focused, practitioner-led discussions where partnerships take shape.