NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Empowering Rural Women

How a packaging startup is spearheading a model for effective, sustainable impact in Cameroon.

Source

Impact Entrepreneur (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Entrepreneurship, WASH

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

gender equality, rural development, waste, Women, women entrepreneurs

Press Release: African Women Impact Fund Launches With USD$60 Million Commitment to Drive an Inclusive Investment Environment

Announcing the African Women Impact Fund (AWIF) Initiative’s achievement of its first commitment of USD$60 million.

Source

ECA (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Entrepreneurship, Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

entrepreneurship, finance, inclusive business, SDGs, Women, women entrepreneurs

Press Release: United States Announces $30 Million Commitment to Advance Women and Girls’ Rights in Afghanistan

The “Enabling Essential Services for Afghan Women and Girls” activity will increase Afghan women and girls’ access to social protection services

Source

USAID (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing

Region

North Africa & Near East

Tags

entrepreneurs, impact investing, social impact, Women, women entrepreneurs

Visa Announces Grant To Help African Women Grow Their Businesses

Visa has announced a grant from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in collaboration with Standard Bank providing funding to the Africa Women Impact Fund.

Source

Capital Business (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

business development, economic, gender gap, Women, women entrepreneurs

Press Release: African Development Bank and African Guarantee Fund Sign $110 Million Agreement with Tanzania’s CRDB Bank to Boost Access to Finance by Women’s SMEs

The African Development Bank signed a $60 million financial package to accelerate access to finance for small businesses managed and owned by women in Tanzania.

Source

African Business (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Entrepreneurship, Finance

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

accelerators, entrepreneurship, funding, small business, SMEs, Women, women entrepreneurs

G20 Women’s Forum Accused of Excluding Indigenous Indonesians

Indonesian rights groups protest against dialogue for gender equality over alleged failure to address issues in North Sumatra.

Source

Al Jazeera (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Entrepreneurship

Region

South Asia

Tags

entrepreneurs, environment, gender equality, indigenous, land rights, social impact, sustainability, Women

Press Release: DFC Commits $280 Million in Financing for Access Bank, Boosting Small Businesses in Nigeria

The loan will help address the financing gap for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and advance financial inclusion in Nigeria, including through the bank’s commitment to supporting women-owned and -led businesses.

Source

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Entrepreneurship

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

economic, entrepreneurs, financial inclusion, partnerships, small business, SMEs, Women, women entrepreneurs

Over $5 Million in Funding to Support Farmers and Agribusinesses in Uganda to Become Climate Resilient

KOICA and ITC sign grant arrangement to enhance natural disaster resilience and competitiveness of farming households and agribusinesses in Uganda.

Source

African Business (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

agribusiness, agriculture, climate change, farming, impact investing, Women