Copyright mbc
Over 450 women entrepreneurs in Malawi are set to benefit from the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA WE4A) programme, implemented by the German government through GIZ. A total of 1.2 million euros has been invested in the project in Malawi. Speaking in Lilongwe, GIZ WE4A Team Leader Theresa Rooney said the programme is designed to enhance business capacities, improve access to financial services, and boost opportunities for African women entrepreneurs leading businesses in green sectors. She said the project is being implemented in eight countries of Malawi, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. According to Rooney, the initiative aims to grow sustainable and inclusive businesses by offering entrepreneurship training, investment-readiness support, and tailored financing products for women entrepreneurs. It also seeks to strengthen the capacity of local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystems to deliver effective technical and financial services. She added that by promoting women’s entrepreneurship in green sectors, the IYBA WE4A contributes to greener and more inclusive growth across Africa. One of the beneficiaries, Christina Chabwera, Managing Director of Nabale Enterprises, producers of mushrooms, natural honey, peanut butter and sesame seeds, said the project is helping her company expand its market and increase capital. “With the financing from the project, our products are growing in reach, and new markets are being established,” she said. Meanwhile, Principal Enterprise Development Officer in the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Tourism, Lisbert Kumatso, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs to drive economic growth. She said government will continue creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully to Malawi’s economy. The IYBA WE4A project, valued at 40 million euros, is funded by the German government and runs from January 2024 to September 2027 across the eight participating countries, including Malawi. By Smart Chalika
