{"id":11110,"date":"2025-07-10T08:22:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T08:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gracamacheltrust.org\/?p=8150"},"modified":"2026-01-23T01:18:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T23:18:28","slug":"celebrating-women-entrepreneurs-in-african-markets-wcw-country-forums-make-their-mark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/featured\/celebrating-women-entrepreneurs-in-african-markets-wcw-country-forums-make-their-mark\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating women entrepreneurs in African markets: WCW Country Forums make their mark"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the WCW country forums, 700 participants were celebrated for their growth, resilience, and business transformation. The events also convened a diverse array of stakeholders\u2014policymakers, private-sector partners, financiers, market enablers, coaches, mentors, and ecosystem builders\u2014creating a vibrant platform for dialogue, collaboration, and strategic action.<\/p>\n

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Each forum was tailored to the local context while remaining aligned with the WCW programme\u2019s broader mission: to build women’s agency, confidence, resilience, and entrepreneurial skills; improve access to markets and finance; and influence policies, practices, and attitudes to better support women entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

Discussions were informed by data-driven insights, real-world impact stories from entrepreneurs, and commitments from key stakeholders to support practical solutions for strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the WCW Forum and Certification event in Tanzania, Bank of Tanzania \u00a0Deputy Governor, Sauda Msemo, emphasised government\u2019s dedication to ensuring inclusive leadership and economic participation at all levels. \u201cWe are committed to ensuring that every Tanzanian, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the nation\u2019s economic growth,\u201d said DG. Suada Msemo.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Youth innovation also featured prominently at the forums, with Youth Jump Starter Challenge finalists pitching their business ideas live to audiences in multiple countries. The Jump Starter Challenge is a fast-paced initiative designed to help young women move from idea to business within just one week. Participants are challenged to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), engage their target market, and demonstrate their ability to identify market needs, adapt their approach, and scale their ideas.<\/p>\n

Finalists are receiving tailored technical support to refine their products or services, improve market reach, grow their customer base, and prepare for future funding opportunities.<\/p>\n

From Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg, Lilongwe to Lusaka, these events affirmed that African women are not just taking part in economic activity – they are leading it. Through reinvestment in their communities, job creation, and poverty reduction, they are helping to shape a more inclusive and prosperous future.<\/p>\n

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Snapshots of Impact: Visual Highlights from the WCW Country Forums<\/h4>\n
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Lilongwe, Malawi:<\/strong> Women entrepreneurs proudly showcased their products at \u00a0market booths, engaged visitors and shared their stories of innovation.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Johannesburg, South Africa:<\/strong> Women business leaders connected and \u00a0shared real life stories and forged \u00a0new collaborations to strengthen their businesses.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania:<\/strong> Women entrepreneurs displayed their innovative products at \u00a0exhibition stands, engaged attendees and demonstrated the transformative impact of their businesses.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Lusaka, Zambia:<\/strong> Wwomen entrepreneurs celebrated new connections and opportunities at the WCW Country Forum.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Celebrating resilience, growth and \u00a0leadership<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

On 9 May, the Gra\u00e7a Machel Trust\u2019s Women Creating Wealth Financial Services edition\u2014partnering with Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority <\/span>(FASSET) \u00a0and New Faces New Voices\u2014hosted the \u201cAdvancing Women\u2019s Financial Inclusion and Celebrating Entrepreneurial Excellence\u201d event. This occasion honoured the achievements of women entrepreneurs who completed the WCW Financial Services programme, celebrated their entrepreneurial journeys, and underscored their impact on South Africa\u2019s financial sector. It was a powerful moment to highlight financial advancement t and to chart the next chapter for women building wealth, influencing policy, and transforming the economy.<\/p>\n

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At the WCW country forums, 700 participants were celebrated for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[742,4,81,95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","category-featured","category-highlight","category-womens-economic-and-social-advancement-highlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11110\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.gbstudio.co.za\/gmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}