By Chisomo Phiri
Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs in the country by supporting women-led businesses through mentorship, access to finance, and business development opportunities under the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa (IYBA) – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa programme.
Speaking during the programme’s launch in Lilongwe on Tuesday, GIZ Team Leader Theresa Rooney said the initiative aims to strengthen Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) such as mHub and Umodzi Consulting, which provide gender-responsive and environmentally sustainable business services.
Rooney explained that the programme brings together over 500 participants including women entrepreneurs, ESOs, development partners, and government representatives to promote business resilience, facilitate access to finance, and foster green growth.
“We are investing in women because their businesses are key drivers of inclusive economic development and sustainable growth across Africa,” said Rooney.
On her part, Principal Enterprises Development Officer in the Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism,Lisbert Kumatso, applauded the initiative, describing it as a game-changer for Malawi’s women entrepreneurs.
“Through such incubation programmes, we expect to see more resilient women-led enterprises that can inspire others and contribute significantly to national development,” she said.
Kumatso added that the government continues to strengthen policies that promote women’s participation in business, citing the SME Order of 2020, which grants small and medium enterprises preferential treatment in public procurement.
The IYBA – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa programme is co-financed by the European Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
It is being implemented in Malawi, Mozambique, Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.
