Application Deadline: January 5, 2026
Applications are now open for the I&P Acceleration WE4A – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa. I&P is implementing I&P Acceleration WE4A (Women Entrepreneurship for Africa), an acceleration program dedicated to financing and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises owned or co-owned and managed by women in the green and transition sectors.
The I&P Acceleration WE4A program is part of the pan-African initiative Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA WE4A), co-financed by the European Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the German development cooperation implemented by GIZ.
Led by Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), the program aims to strengthen the development and resilience of high-potential women-led businesses, particularly in green and transition sectors.
The I&P WE4A Acceleration Programme is organized into three key tracks:
- Investment Preparation
- Business training (e-learning + webinars)
- Mentorship with investors and coaches
- Help with financial planning, modeling, and preparing for future capital
- Access to Debt
- Loans via a guarantee mechanism (especially in Uganda) — average loan size around €22,000
- Technical assistance in credit applications, repayment planning and negotiation
- Access to Capital
- Repayable financing (interest-free) for high-potential businesses (in some countries)
- Support to scale sustainably and prepare for further investment
Eligibility
- Women-led or co-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda and other target countries: Cameroon, Senegal, Togo)
- Businesses active in green/transition sectors (renewable energy, recycling, waste, sustainable agriculture, etc.)
- Early-growth to growth-stage enterprises with strong potential to scale and formalize
Amount of Support & Impact
- Total programme size: €3.5 million across the four target African countries.
- Portfolio target: ~140 women-led businesses by the end of the programme.
- Grant funding detail: Related WE4A grants plan includes funding of about USD 5,000 per entrepreneur.
Program Timeline
- 2025–2027: Implementation period for the I&P Acceleration WE4A programme.
- Uganda-specific debt track: Partners with Finance Trust Bank to provide pilot loans.
- Application Period: According to Opportunities for Youth, the Uganda track is accepting applications from November 14, 2025, to January 5, 2026.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the I&P Acceleration WE4A – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa
