Nkwanzi Scaling Women SMEs Project (SWSP)

Nkwanzi Scaling Women SMEs Project (SWSP) is an investment readiness programme that aims to unlock the potential of women-led enterprises through capacity building on fundraising by improving their potential to raise commercial capital. The programme offers WSME centered mentorship, coaching, investment readiness support and facilitates linkages to financial institutions in the selected countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Nkwanzi project aims to support 400 WSMEs through self-directed learning on the AECF Academy platform, one-on-one mentorship and coaching, business assessment for investment readiness, and facilitation of investments from financial institutions. The project will be implemented across nine countries – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The project is co-funded by the African Development Bank as part of Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), a pan-African initiative to bridge the US$ 42 billion financing gap facing women in Africa.

Geographical Focus

Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We still encourage Women SMEs from countries outside our scope to submit an application for potential consideration.

Focus Areas

The programme targets Women SMES operating in these sectors; Agribusiness, Renewable Energy, Financial Services, Education, Water & Sanitation, Tech-driven Businesses and Health Care.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the Nkwanzi Program are listed as follows:

• Woman-led businesses in the 9 focus countries experiencing challenges in accessing finance
• The main participant and applicant must be the CEO, Managing Director, Owner, or Founder of the business and must be an active participant in the program.
• Generated annual revenue of more than US$ 50,000 in the last or current financial year.
• Operational for at least 2 years.
• Willing to work online – i.e., Must have a smartphone/laptop with internet connection to access online tools, courses and online community.
• Willing to share performance/financial data as part of finance linkage.

Additional requirements 

• Businesses that directly impact or work with women.
• Special consideration will be given to youth, under the age of 35 years.

*We still encourage Women SMEs from countries and sectors outside our scope to submit an application for potential consideration.