The High Commission of Canada in South Africa and AWIEF have partnered for E-Commerce Capacity Development Programme for Women Entrepreneurs.
Funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the activity will enhance market access for women entrepreneurs through building knowledge, capacity, and skills in digital channels.
E-commerce is one of the most dynamically growing business sectors in Africa. Retailing online has provided SMEs and the informal sector solutions to keep running and reaching customers during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. A 2019 online retail study found that, in 2018, e-commerce totaled more than R14 billion or 1.4% of total retail sales in South Africa.
“As Africa pursues an ambitious regional eTrade agenda through the $3.2 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the increasing growth potentials and acceleration of e-commerce is coming into sharp focus.” said AWIEF founder and chief executive officer Irene Ochem. She noted that “women have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns, and women are more than ever at risk of being left behind in the adoption of digital technologies to rebuild businesses in a post-COVID world. This programme aims to increase women’s participation and success in online business, prepare them to capitalize on new opportunities enabled by the increasingly evolving digital economy, and expand their market access intra-Africa and globally.”
40 South African women entrepreneurs will be provided with technical learning, training and mentoring support on how to start, grow and scale e-commerce businesses
Applications are invited from dynamic and motivated female entrepreneurs for the AWIEF e-commerce Capacity Development Programme. Entries will close on Monday, 2nd November 2020. Programme duration is 3 months.
Eligibility criteria
- Women aged 18 years or older
- South African citizens or permanent residents
- Need to enhance skills and/or knowledge to take your business online
- Women with an existing online business or
- Women with existing businesses that can be taken online or
- Women who aspire to have an online retailing business
- Ability to commit +5 hours weekly on this programme
- Computer literacy and access to a computer
To submit your application for the e-Commerce Capacity Development Programme, please follow this link:
http://bit.ly/AWIEF_eCommerceCapacityDevelopment
Application deadline is Monday, 2nd November 2020, 23:59 CAT. Applications will only be accepted through the link above.
For more information email: info@awieforum.org
