The economic empowerment and financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs in sectors contributing to the green transformation
Investing in Young Businesses in Africa : Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA WE4A)
IYBA WE4A is a regional flagship initiative designed to unlock the full potential of women entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa. Its vision is clear: a dynamic, inclusive, and green African economy powered by innovative women-led start-ups and MSMEs. The programme equips entrepreneurs with the tools, partnerships, and pathways they need to scale—helping them grow sustainable businesses, access finance, and lead transformative change in their communities and sectors.
For entrepreneurs, IYBA WE4A offers a platform to accelerate business growth and investment readiness. For partners and supporters, it provides a coordinated, high-impact mechanism to strengthen women’s economic participation and channel resources where they create the most lasting value. By uniting global expertise with local ecosystems, the initiative positions women entrepreneurs at the forefront of Africa’s transition toward greener and more inclusive economies.
Operating in eight countries—Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda—the programme supports women-led enterprises to expand their operations, enhance managerial and technical capacities, and create or sustain jobs. Through tailored support and ecosystem engagement, IYBA WE4A helps build resilient businesses that can compete and thrive in regional and global markets.
Part of the Team Europe Initiative “Investing in Young Businesses in Africa” (TEI IYBA), the programme is jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the BMZ-funded WE4D multi-donor platform “Employment Promotion for Women for the Green Transformation in Africa” (WE4D). Together, these partners share a commitment to catalysing innovation, opportunity, and sustainable economic growth driven by women entrepreneurs across the continent.
What We Do - our four pillars
Who We Support
IYBA WE4A supports both innovation-driven start-ups with high growth potential as well as more traditional MSMEs operating in local or regional markets — acknowledging that both face financing and structural challenges.
• Women entrepreneurs leading start-ups and MSMEs in green sectors
• Their teams and employees, enabling job creation and empowerment beyond founders
• Ecosystem actors (ESOs, accelerators and incubators, financial actors, associations) who support sustainable, gender-responsive business development
Our activities by country
Knowledge products
VODCAST SERIES · WOMEN PLANTING THE FUTURE
IYBA WE4A vodcast series showcases the stories of women entrepreneurs in Mozambique who are building sustainable businesses and creating positive impact in their communities.
AI Integration Toolkit for Women Entrepreneurs
This toolkit is designed as a practical companion for women entrepreneurs who want to understand, explore, and apply AI and automation in their business operations. It provides step-by-step guidance to help you translate ideas into measurable impact
Designing and implementing inclusive, gender-responsive programmes with a Theory of Change
This guide supports practitioners in designing and implementing inclusive, gender-responsive programmes using a Theory of Change (ToC).
Women’s Economic and Financial Resilience - Guide, Measurement Framework and Toolbox
This report and its related practical guide aim to support DFIs, FIs, and donors in designing bundled financial products and
technical assistance to close resilience gaps for W-MSMEs.
