Nedbank and Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Partner to Launch Women Enterprise Growth and Export Programme in South Africa

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (www.AWIEForum.org) has partnered with Nedbank to launch a new programme – Women Enterprise Growth and Export. This new initiative builds on Nedbank and AWIEF’s long-term relationship and partnership since 2018, implementing the AWIEF Growth Accelerator and investment readiness programme in South Africa.

The Nedbank – AWIEF Women Enterprise Growth and Export is a 12-month business and enterprise supplier development programme for established South African Exempted Micro Enterprises (EME) or Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE) that are at least 51% owned by black women.

The programme is intended for product-based businesses and is designed to help participants strengthen their operations, improve their finance, market and export readiness, and access larger domestic, regional, African, and international markets.

It forms part of a three-year partnership between Nedbank and AWIEF that will support 75 women-owned SMMEs, with 25 businesses selected for each annual cohort.

The programme targets growth-stage businesses that are already operating, generating revenue, and looking to scale and expand. Participating businesses should have the potential to strengthen their systems, increase production, fulfilment or distribution capacity, supply larger buyers, enter new markets, and progress towards regional or international expansion.

It will support 75 women-owned SMMEs over three years, with 25 businesses selected for each annual cohort.

The official and in-person launch of the programme will take place at the AWIEF2026 Conference and Exhibition on 10 – 11 November 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town.

Call for Applications for 2026 Cohort of 25 Businesses

Applications are invited from qualifying businesses for the 2026 Cohort of 25 participants.

Eligibility & Who Can Apply

To qualify for the Nedbank – AWIEF Women Enterprise Growth and Export Programme, businesses must meet the following requirements:

• Be legally registered and operating in South Africa
• Be at least 51% owned by black women, as defined under the B-BBEE Act
• Qualify as an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) or Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) under the B-BBEE code applicable to their main business activities
• Be post-revenue, currently trading, and serving paying customers
• Looking to expand their market access nationally, regionally, intra-Africa, and internationally
• Be product-based and produce, manufacture, process, assemble, package, formulate, or distribute physical products
• Operate in one of the priority sectors
• Founder commits to a 12-month programme

Priority Sectors

The programme is open to businesses in the following sectors:

• Agriculture and Agro-processing
• Manufacturing
• Building and Construction
• Green Economy and Renewable Energy
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Cleaning and Hygiene
• Textile, Apparel and Accessories
• Beauty, Wellness, and Personal Care
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Design and Craft
• Circular Economy

Programme Timeline

7 September 2026
Applications Close

September – October 2026
Application screening and selection of 25 participating businesses

10 – 11 November 2026
Official Programme Launch and in-person 2-day bootcamp at AWIEF2026 Conference and Exhibition, CTICC, Cape Town

November 2026 – October 2027
Programme Implementation

Programme Benefits

Selected businesses will receive 12 months of tailored, practical support to strengthen their operations and products, prepare for larger markets and pursue sustainable growth.

• Business growth support
• Individual diagnostic and development plan
• Coaching and technical mentoring
• Product, supplier and retail readiness
• Market access support
• Finance and investment readiness
• Export readiness support
• Regional trade and partnership opportunities – support to explore AfCFTA-related opportunities, including B2B contracts, joint ventures, and co-production arrangements
• Networking and buyer linkages – opportunities to connect with mentors, buyers, institutions, finance providers, and other women entrepreneurs.
• AWIEF2026 Conference participation – free access to the AWIEF2026 Conference in Cape Town, including selected programme-related travel and accommodation support.
• Ongoing progress tracking – regular reviews to monitor implementation, business growth, job creation, market access, and progress against the Individual Development Plan.

Application Submission

Applications are submitted online until 7 September 2026, 11:59 SAST, only through this official link: https://apo-opa.co/4woMRTe
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF).

Enquiries:
​For more information on the programme, please email: info@awieforum.org