US-based non-profit the Centre for Global Enterprise (CGE) has opened applications to the second edition of its African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC) business development programme, supporting female entrepreneurs born and doing business in Africa.

Who You Should Apply

AWEC embraces diversity and inclusivity. We encourage those who meet the following criteria to apply:
  • Women who were born in and do business in any African country; members of the diaspora are welcome to apply, but their business or NGO must have an impact on the continent
  • Established entrepreneurs who demonstrate business clarity OR aspiring entrepreneurs with clear business concepts that they are committed to developing and implementing over the course of our 12-month program
  • Those interested in advancing their business and management skills, as well as growing their companies and their leadership capabilities
  • Self-starters who demonstrate passion, resilience, leadership, collaboration, and empathy
  • Proficiency in English, which is the official language the program
  • AWEC is open to women entrepreneurs working in any industry
Successful participants help to build our community by contributing their knowledge and experience, learning from others, and using what they learn to continue building their businesses and supporting the growth of fellow cohort members’ businesses.

Expectations

Participants should expect to spend an average of 4 to 6 hours per week participating in AWEC activities (primarily online), for one year. When considering whether or not to apply, please keep in mind that this program is fast-paced and requires a firm commitment to active learning and engagement. Participants are expected to engage in one AWEC activity every week. Participants will receive strategic guidance and feedback from teaching assistants, mentors, AWEC staff, and world-class instructors as they navigate the curriculum. There is no cost to participate in AWEC, but it is a fast-paced program that requires time, hard work and commitment to extract maximum value from the experience. We encourage all applicants to seriously consider the time commitment of 4 to 6 hours per week over 12 months.

Key Dates for Cohort 2 (2019-2020)

5 December 2018 Application period opens (12:01 am UTC) Time Zone Converter
18 December 2018 The application period closes (11:59pm UTC)
Early March 2019 Application result notifications distributed
18 March 2019 Online orientation opens
27 March 2019 AWEC Welcome Session (online video conference)
3 April 2019 First AWEC Live Session (online video conference)
April 2019-March 2020 Core AWEC programming
September 2019 First Leadership Summit (location TBD)
March 2020 Second Leadership Summit (location TBD)
31 March 2020 Cohort 2 Program Concludes
April 2020 Certificates of Completion distributed

Program Benefits

Upon successful completion of the 12-month program, participants will:
  • Form connections with a diverse network of African women entrepreneurs
  • Establish a relationship with at least one senior business mentor
  • Strengthen strategy, leadership and business management skills
  • Apply their AWEC learning to their business with an eye toward sustainable growth
  • Gain skills needed to grow and scale their enterprise
The deadline for applications is December 18 and you can click here to apply.

Musa Suleiman
Follow me

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.