Women In Africa Philanthropy (WIA Philanthropy)
Recognizing the economic contributions of women across Africa, Women In Africa Philanthropy (WIA Philanthropy), an initiative established in 2016, focuses on supporting African women entrepreneurs and leaders.
The organization’s efforts align with broader objectives for sustainable development and societal advancement on the continent.
WIA Philanthropy has set a goal to support 10,000 African women entrepreneurs by 2030, with projections for creating 100,000 jobs and generating an estimated $10 billion in revenue for the African economy by the same year.
This initiative is based on the premise that African women make a significant contribution to regional economic progress.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
WIA Philanthropy was co-founded by Aude de Thuin, who serves as its President. In 2018, Hafsat Abiola was appointed Executive President, bringing a background in human rights and activism.
Caroline Boudergues serves as Co-Founder and Managing Director.
The organization operates with the perspective that investment in women can yield broad developmental benefits.
“Women are a significant resource on the continent. I want to help lead the organization that is working to develop its potential,” stated Hafsat Abiola upon her appointment.
Operational Framework and Programs
WIA Philanthropy’s activities are structured around three primary areas: providing entrepreneurship training, facilitating mentorship for business development, and engaging in advocacy for policy and social change.
This framework aims to equip women with skills, connect them with supportive networks, and promote their participation in policy discussions.
Training for Empowerment: WIA Philanthropy provides structured training programs to equip women with skills for competitive markets and business sustainability. The curriculum often covers areas such as financial management, business operations, marketing strategies, and digital literacy.
Mentorship for Growth: The organization connects women entrepreneurs with experienced professionals and leaders.
These mentorship relationships are designed to offer guidance on business challenges and opportunities.
The “WIA Mentoring by Deloitte” program offers virtual training, personalized mentoring, and networking opportunities over seven months.
Advocacy for Change: WIA Philanthropy engages in efforts to promote gender equality. It collaborates with various stakeholders, including policymakers and community representatives, to foster environments conducive to women’s leadership and economic participation.
This advocacy aims to address barriers to women’s economic engagement and integrate their perspectives into development planning.
The organization reports operations in 54 African countries, implementing a range of programs:
- WIA Young Leaders: This program supports emerging African women leaders. It has provided training, mentorship, and business exposure to 33 young women. Collaborations with organizations such as Dior, Lazard, and KPMG are noted as part of this program.
- Women for Zero Hunger: In partnership with Stop Hunger, this initiative supports women-led projects focused on food security. Non-profit organizations selected for the program receive a €10,000 prize and a six-month mentoring period. The program addresses agricultural techniques, sustainable food systems, and women’s access to resources.
- Femmes d’Avenir (Women of the Future): This program includes dedicated hubs in countries like Gabon and Senegal, designed to foster women’s entrepreneurship and support the growth of women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For instance, the program in Senegal provides support to 205 Senegalese women entrepreneurs annually over three years.
- JAMII Femmes: This program has provided training, resources, and networking to women-led SMEs in six African countries over two years. A collaboration with The Coca-Cola Foundation aims to reach 20,000 women entrepreneurs across 10 African countries over three years, including Kenya, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.
- WIA54: This is a pan-African competition for female start-up founders, aiming to provide exposure and opportunities.
- WIA Code: A training program focused on coding and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for young girls, addressing digital skills development.
Reported Impact and Societal Influence
In its eight years of operation, WIA Philanthropy reports having trained over 11,169 women and mentored more than 15,059 individuals.
The organization’s rationale for its focus on women highlights their potential economic contributions.
Information from WIA Philanthropy suggests that women entrepreneurs in Africa could contribute an additional $300 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025, with approximately 50% of women engaged in entrepreneurial activities.
WIA Philanthropy emphasizes that women tend to reinvest a substantial portion of their income, reported as up to 90%, compared to 30-40% for men, back into their families and communities.
This reinvestment is cited as a factor in improved education, healthcare, and overall well-being, potentially contributing to local economies.
The organization aims to address disparities in funding, noting that only an estimated 7% of women entrepreneurs secure the funding they seek, and approximately 2% of global venture capital is directed towards women-led businesses.
Examples of individuals who have benefited from WIA Philanthropy’s programs include:
- Claudia Castellanos, Co-founder and CEO of Black Mamba Foods (Eswatini): Her company won the WIA54 competition in 2020, which preceded Black Mamba securing a $559,000 investment from Enygma Ventures, facilitating expansion across Africa and internationally.
- Raissa Maiga, a beneficiary of the Femmes d’Avenir Program, expanded her business from a ready-to-wear boutique to include school uniform production, and she secured a financing partner.
- Precious Akhilorme, a JAMII Femmes beneficiary: She reported receiving support and learning opportunities through the program.
These accounts illustrate the operational outcomes of WIA Philanthropy’s initiatives.
Challenges and Regional Engagement
Challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Africa include disparities in access to funding and societal perceptions that may limit women’s leadership roles.
WIA Philanthropy’s advocacy efforts aim to address these issues by promoting financial inclusion and advocating for equitable environments.
The organization’s engagement in East Africa is notable.
The JAMII Femmes program, in collaboration with The Coca-Cola Foundation, included Kenya as one of its initial focus countries.
Additionally, the “Women for Zero Hunger” program is open to non-profit organizations across Anglophone and Francophone Africa, extending its reach to East African initiatives focused on food security.
The coverage of WIA Philanthropy’s “Women for Zero Hunger” program by Africa Solutions Media Hub, a Kenyan media house reporting on philanthropy, indicates regional attention to these efforts.
WIA Philanthropy’s ongoing activities and partnerships reflect its commitment to contributing to the economic empowerment of women across Africa.
