Uganda

Catalysing the full potential of women entrepreneurs for economic empowerment and employment creation

In Uganda, women-led businesses are at the heart of economic innovation and sustainable growth. IYBA WE4A supports these entrepreneurs in overcoming barriers, unlocking their potential, and contributing to a greener, more inclusive economy, empowering women entrepreneurs to drive green transformation.

Objective

Increase the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of women entreprenuers contributing to the green transformation.

What We Do

The Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A) action is part of a broader effort to unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs in driving inclusive economic growth and green transformation across the continent. It is jointly supported 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). WE4A is implemented through the Employment Promotion for Women for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) programme of GIZ, in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), and is embedded within the Team Europe Initiative “Investing in Young Businesses in Africa (IYBA).”

In Uganda, the WE4D programme is commissioned by BMZ in partnership with the EU and Norad, and implemented by GIZ in close collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD), which serves as the lead government partner.

With the aim to grow sustainable and inclusive businesses, IYBA WE4A offers entrepreneurship training, investment readiness support, and fitting financing products to African women entreprenuers, while strengthening the offer of effective technical and financial services by local and regional entreprenuerial ecosystems

Our Approach

In Uganda, IYBA WE4A coordinates the implementation of four intervention areas that work hand-in-hand to support Africa women entreprenuers on their journey to growth and scale.

• IDEATE – Entrepreneurship Skills
  Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, women receive tailored entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and seed capital. This foundational support equips emerging entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to shape and refine their business ideas. To date, over 616 SMEs in Uganda have completed the training with 262 access seed capital in the initial cohort 2024-2025.
• DEVELOP - Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
  In collaboration with partner Entreprenuership support organisations (ESOs), such as ISP Uganda, Finding XY and Einstein Rising, WE4A aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and offers gender-responsive and green business development services for over 400 women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
• GROW – Access to Finance 
  In collaboration with partners such as Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) and Melanin Kapital, WE4A provides access to growth-oriented financing opportunities designed specifically for women-led enterprises. These solutions help address common financial barriers and enable entrepreneurs to expand their businesses sustainably.
• CONNECT – Knowledge and Networks
  Women entrepreneurs capitalize on networks and knowledge exchange regarding best business practices to drive collective growth and innovation

Our Impact

By promoting women’s entrepreneurship in green sectors, IYBA WE4A contributes
to greener and more inclusive growth in Africa. Accelerating the growth and improving the investment opportunities of women-led enterprises, the project
contributes to closing the gender gap in in Uganda labour and financial markets

Working hand-in-hand with local entrepreneurial ecosystems, and financial actors, IYBA WE4A boosts the quality and relevance of the technical and financial support for Africa women entreprenuers , improving necessary business development services and financing structures.

Furthermore, successful women entreprenuers serve as role models and encourage other women and girls to pursue their career of choice. Ultimately, IYBA WE4A in Uganda, aims to increase women power and influence by removing barriers to work, enabling decent employment and supporting women enterprises to thrive.