EYE-C programme empowers young women in Uganda's coffee industry

To mark yesterday's International Day of Rural Women, the ILO highlights the role of rural women entrepreneurs in driving local development and decent work. In Sierra Leone, Mary Alpha, a certified business coach and founder of Farm Tok Consultancy, is supporting more than 1,200 rural entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and advocacy. Her initiative, developed with support from the ILO’s Opportunity Salone Programme, demonstrates how investing in women’s entrepreneurship strengthens rural economies and fosters inclusion. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ePbXtvtZ FARM TOK CONSULTANCY ILO Africa Tonderai Manoto Sinnah Massaquoi European Union

Made in Africa, for Africans, by Africans. At #IATF2025, Wendy B. Mpendulo, founder of African Progressive Women explained their mission of bringing women together in trade and business. Her organisation supports entrepreneurs to keep going, to scale up and to reach international markets. She sees Made in Africa as a platform to exchange creative concepts with fellow Africans while creating business revenue and enabling the world to discover more African-made products. Including her own work in the food space, where she is introducing the African natural snack experience. As we look to #IATF2027, how can Africa build more pathways for women entrepreneurs to grow and trade across borders? #AfCFTAMarketplace #Afreximbank #WomenInTrade #YouthEntrepreneurs #MadeInAfrica

At #GS25, First Ladies from across Nigeria shared how they are turning policy into real impact for women and girls through education, empowerment, and inclusion. From the breakout session From Policy to Practice: First Ladies as Catalysts for Norm Change and Economic Empowerment. #GS25Highlights #NewVoices #InclusiveSociety #PIC

When we first imagined a cross-border learning exchange for women, our goal was simple, to inspire, connect and transform. That vision led us to Umoja Village, Africa’s only women only village in Samburu, about 380kms from Nairobi, Kenya. From 1-2nd October2025, under the leadership if IGAD Gender and with support from the people and Government of Japan, we brough together women leaders from across the IGAD region to share experiences, celebrate culture, and learn from Umoja’s remarkable model of empowerment. Umoja was founded by brave Samburu women who escaped violence and harmful cultural practices such as forced marriages, violence, and female genital mutilation. They built a haven where women lead, protect and empower one another, construction homes from cow dung and shrubs, running a school for their children, and creating sustainable livelihoods for their community. The exchange offered a unique opportunity to witness and learn from Umoja’s inspiring story of, empowerment and solidarity. It was a reminder that collaboration, shared knowledge and courage can transform not just individual lives but an entire community. I am truly proud to have organized this visit and to see the impact of the initiative firsthand. I was deeply inspired by the courage, determination and unity of the women of Umoja village. Honored to be part of the partnership between IGAD Gender and the people of Japan, working to strengthen women’s leadership, equality and meaningful participation across the Horn of Africa.

🎥 Empowering Women in Trade The African Women Chamber of Commerce (AWCC) interviewed Leilah, a Tanzanian local trader, to document the lived experiences of women in commerce. This initiative forms part of AWCC’s commitment to amplifying women’s voices, addressing barriers to participation, and promoting inclusive trade across Africa. The interview highlights both the opportunities and the structural challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in local markets. By capturing these perspectives, AWCC aims to inform evidence-based advocacy, shape supportive policies, and develop programs that enhance women’s role in Africa’s economic transformation. This effort underscores our mission to create an enabling environment where women traders are not only participants but leaders in driving sustainable growth. #AWCC #WomenInTrade #InclusiveEconomies #Tanzania #EconomicEmpowerment

🌍 From Legacy to Leadership At Unstoppable Africa 2025, H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia, reflected on generations of women entrepreneurs shaping Africa’s economies and the urgent need to empower the next generation of women in trade. She called for equitable policies and stronger networks to help women-led enterprises scale across regional and global markets. Access more speaker videos: https://lnkd.in/gz-TtSji #UnstoppableAfrica #GABI United Nations Global Compact

Across Africa, powerful women-led institutions are shaping the future in their own distinct ways. The Nigerian Governors Spouses Forum Nigeria Governors' Forum drives social change from the heart of governance. The Africa Women CEO’s Network Africa Women CEOs Network  connects trailblazers at the highest levels of business. Women in Philanthropy and Impact Africa Women in Philanthropy and Impact Africa brings together visionaries who invest in communities and unlock new possibilities. And The Brief Academy The Brief Academy equips women with the tools to rise, lead, and transform. Each stands tall on its own. Each leads a different front in the fight for equity, impact, and opportunity. At HERitage House, these voices meet not to merge, but to resonate. Together, they create a chorus that amplifies what is already strong, ensuring that no voice stands alone. Here, independence is honored. Collaboration is celebrated. And women shaping Africa’s tomorrow step into the spotlight they deserve. Your voice. Our stage. #HERitageVoices #GenderEquity #WomenLeadAfrica #SocialImpact #PhilanthropyInAfrica #AmplifyHer

This week's resource roundup focuses on African youth, women's leadership, and technology-driven advocacy. Find grants from UN Women to combat online violence and boost political participation, plus a major fellowship and prize for young African entrepreneurs. ✅Call for Proposals: UN Women is seeking partners to develop a Global Feminist Technology and Innovation Lab to strengthen women's rights organizations. The lab will focus on preventing and responding to technology-facilitated violence against women and girls and leveraging tech for advocacy on Ending Violence Against Women. Deadline: Oct 31 https://lnkd.in/eESfPXuj ✅Call for Applications: The Anzisha Prize is Africa's biggest award for very young entrepreneurs (ages 15–22). It offers a two-year Venture Building Fellowship and a share of over $140,000 USD in business support and cash prizes to African nationals with existing businesses based in Africa. Deadline: Nov 7 https://anzisha.org/apply/ ✅Call for Proposals: UN Women is inviting CSOs to submit proposals for the WYDE | Women's Leadership Initiative. The project, funded by the European Union, aims to advance women's full and effective political participation and decision-making at all levels, especially for women and girls often left furthest behind. Deadline: Nov 10 https://lnkd.in/ggWeYBJY

🔬 At the Zonta International District 18 Conference in Accra, themed “Realizing Equality: Building for an Even Brighter Future for Women and Girls in Africa,” District 18 Governor Opeibea Omaboe announced the Female STEM Bursary and Mentorship Initiative in partnership with Koforidua Technical University. The program will support 50 young women to pursue degrees in STEM fields. Students from the pilot program attended the conference’s opening ceremony, where Ghana’s Vice President Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need for stronger partnerships that empower women to fully participate in the nation’s social, economic and political life. “When women thrive, communities thrive and national progress depends on ensuring we leave no one behind.” 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gxZ7Rf-S 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gjMY6m9n #ZontiansInAction #BuildABetterWorld #WomenInSTEM

In alignment with the Africa International Policy Research Center (AIPRC)™️ mission to advance inclusive governance, human development, and social protection across the continent, we are proud to highlight the leadership and field engagement of H.E. Ambassador kitoko Gata Ngoulou, Minister of State for Women and Child Protection of the Republic of Chad, Advisory Council Member of Africa International Policy Research Center (AIPRC)™️, and Founder of BLACK MAJESTY, an AIPRC partner organization. On Friday, October 10, H.E. Ambassador kitoko Gata Ngoulou began her first field mission in Mayo-Kebbi West Province, specifically in Pala, in line with the vision and directives of Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, to ensure that public policy remains close to the lived realities of communities. Warmly received by the Governor, Sir Abdelmanane Mahamat Katab, and local leadership, H.E. Ambassador engaged directly with women, girls, and children—the heart of social transformation and the foundation of inclusive national development. The mission included: I. A working session with the Provincial Delegation for Women and Child Protection; II. Consultations with local women’s organizations and youth leaders; III. Constructive dialogues with administrative, traditional, and religious authorities; IV. Community listening sessions focused on gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment, and child protection; V. Engagements with local media as essential partners in advocacy and awareness; VI. Visits to reception centers and support structures serving women and children; VII. Identification of key sites and partnerships for the upcoming 16 Days of Activism campaign. Every discussion, every shared experience reinforces the conviction that to act in the field is to act with justice. These engagements provide a foundation for evidence-based policy development—ensuring that the voices of women and children inform the future of national governance. At AIPRC, we believe that the Africa of tomorrow is being built today—by and for its women and children. Through strategic partnerships, research-driven advocacy, and the leadership of women like H.E. Ambassador Gata Kitoko Ngoulou, AIPRC continues to champion a future rooted in equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. #AIPRC #GenderEquality #WomenEmpowerment #ChildProtection #BLACKMAJESTY #LeadershipInAction #Chad #AfricaForHer Stellenbosch University Beyond Growth Consultancy (Pty) Ltd Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Terrablu Climate Technologies Pvt Ltd UN Women Global Fund for Women Women in AI Millennium Child Support Group Save the Children International