Tony Elumelu Foundation partners with GIZ and EU to empower over 1,000 African Women in Green businesses

Over 1,000 women entrepreneurs across eight African countries, including Uganda, are set to benefit from the Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA–WE4A) programme — a grant initiative designed to boost women-led green businesses and accelerate sustainable growth on the continent.

The programme, valued at USD 5.25 million, will award each of the 1,049 selected women entrepreneurs a USD 5,000 grant (approximately shs 18 million), alongside training, mentorship, and business development support.

Launched by the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in partnership with the European Union (EU) and  GIZ, the initiative is being implemented in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Senegal, Cameroon, and Togo.

Speaking at a workshop held at Protea Hotel, Kampala, Olusola Ogunbiyi, the Partnerships Officer at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reaffirmed the foundation’s mission to nurture African entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

“The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropic arm supporting entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries,” Ogunbiyi said.

“Our chairman, Tony Elumelu, believes Africans can change Africa. That’s why we focus on empowering entrepreneurs to provide African solutions to African problems.”

She highlighted that since 2015, TEF has trained over 2.5 million Africans and provided direct funding to 24,000 entrepreneurs, including over 1,176 in Uganda.

The TEF’s WE4A programme is co-financed by the EU,  GIZ.

Ogunbiyi said the programme is open to women entrepreneurs at all stages — from idea to early growth — provided their businesses contribute to environmental sustainability.

“Whether you’re at the idea stage or already running a business, you can apply,” she said. “Selected participants will receive capital funding, mentorship, and training to scale their enterprises. The green sector is booming, and we want women to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Applications are open from October 6, 2025, to January 25, 2026, via www.tefconnect.com.

Faith Kwera, President of TEF Uganda and a 2019 programme alumna, urged women to apply, describing the initiative as transformational.

“This programme has enabled women to gain traction for their businesses, feed their families, and empower themselves. That’s the African agenda — Africapitalism — which Tony Elumelu envisions,” she said.

One past beneficiary, Jane Francis Awuma, founder of Shanoja Investment Limited, which manufactures animal feeds, said the programme helped her expand her operations.

“The grant allowed me to strengthen my workforce and buy a crusher machine to process organic waste mechanically instead of manually,” Awuma shared. “I encourage women not to despise humble beginnings — TEF can turn dreams into reality.”

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Uganda, a sister institution to the Tony Elumelu Foundation, also urged women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunity.

“The WE4A initiative provides a unique opportunity for Ugandan women to access capital, mentorship, and business support to grow sustainable enterprises,” said Hoseana Niyonsaba-Semanda, UBA Uganda’s Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications.

While the programme has already supported over 1,176 Ugandan entrepreneurs, many local women are eagerly awaiting access to the new round of grants, with some calling for faster disbursement to meet growing business needs.