Deadline: 31 December 2023
The U.S. Embassy Kinshasa in partnership with Groupe Utalii Kwetu invites Women Entrepreneurs aged 25-45 years living in Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Goma and Bukavu to apply for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program 2023 – the very first cohort of AWE in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In more than 100 countries worldwide, AWE is a free entrepreneurship program designed to help women grow their businesses.
The AWE training will take place over a period of six months, including three months of guided formal training and three months of mentorship and business linkages, culminating in a graduation ceremony and pitch session. Successful participants will gain access to seed capital (specific to winners of the business plan competition) as well as further training opportunities at Harvard Business School in the United State and South Africa.
Participants will increase their knowledge and understanding of business, marketing, finance, and operations. They will meet and network with like-minded women to share best practices, with the support of a team of qualified program staff facilitators and mentors.
Program Goals
- Provide resources for women to engage in U.S-style online education with guided facilitation and localization from local women business leaders.
- Foster networks that support participants’ access to peer-to-peer mentorship, business partners, and scaling opportunities with businesses in the region and in the United States.
- Provide access to a wide range of opportunities tailored to women’s economic empowerment to expand the effects of participation.
Training Details
- The training will be held both online and physically at the American Spaces in Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Bukavu, and Goma from February 1 to July 31, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to Congolese women entrepreneurs, aged 25-45 years with a business or a strong business plan.
- Participants must have advanced English (speaking and writing).
- AWE is open to residents of Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Bukavu, and Goma.
- Participants must commit six hours per week to the program for a period of six months (January – June 2024).
- Participants should have basic computer skills and access to internet and email.
- All qualified applicants are welcome to apply.
For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in DRC.