What: Workshop presenting findings of the African Development Bank's Mapping Study of Women's Business Associations in Africa

Who: The African Development Bank's Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, in collaboration with its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative

When: Wednesday, 7 May 2025; 09:30-12:00 GMT

Where: African Development Bank Headquarters, CCIA Building, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and online

The African Development Bank's Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, in partnership with the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, will host a hybrid workshop to present the results of the "Mapping Study of Small to Medium Scale Women's Business Associations in Africa."

The study evaluated 409 women-led business associations across 16 African countries, offering key insights into the strengths, challenges, and capacity-building needs. It also outlines strategies to enhance their role as effective advocates for women entrepreneurs and as drivers of inclusive finance and policy reform.

This session is open to civil society organizations, women-led business associations, financial institutions, government entities, and Bank staff. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and validate the study's findings and contribute to the design of a targeted capacity-building program. The workshop will feature presentations from key contributors to the study, who will share their insights and explore the study's potential impact on women-led businesses and entrepreneurship in Africa.

This study is part of the Bank's ongoing efforts to strengthen civil society engagement and promote women's economic empowerment across Africa.

To register for the session, click here.

Simultaneous interpretation in English and French will be available.