Coca-Cola Launches Programme to Empower 20,000 African Women Entreprenuers
In a bid to increase the impact of African women entrepreneurs, the Coca-Cola Foundation has partnered with Women in Africa (WIA) through the JAMII Femmes initiative to support 20,000 women-led businesses across African countries.
As reported on The Guardian, the initiative is expected to boost business creation opportunities by improving access to vocational training, networks, finance and markets.
According to the foundation, the entrepreneurs selected for the programme will be from Kenya, Nigeria and Ivory Coast over the next three years.
Speaking at the launch event held at the University of Nairobi, which hosted participating women entrepreneurs from Kenya, Vice President and General Manager of East and Central Africa franchise at Coca-Cola, Debra Mallowah, said the company was happy to have Kenya as one of the beneficiary countries in phase 1.
“Women empowerment remains one of our key pillars in driving the sustainability agenda and we are keen to bring on board more initiatives that deliver the desired positive impact in the lives of women in Kenya and Africa,” she said.
She said the Jamii Femmes initiative aims to support the creation of innovative solutions for sustainable development in Africa. She said the first phase is a four-month digital training phase, conducted by WIA’s knowledge partner, Honoris United Universities.
She said in the second phase, selected beneficiaries will have access to grants, adding that in the third phase, selected entrepreneurs will be able to participate in an accelerator programme, after which a special prize of $10,000 will be awarded per country.
The programme, which had more than 3,000 African women entrepreneurs in the first cohort, is open for the second cohort.
