I&P launches a new acceleration program dedicated to women entrepreneurs operating in the green sector

I&P is thrilled to launch a new acceleration program dedicated to women entrepreneurs operating in the green sector: I&P Acceleration WE4A (Women Entrepreneurship for Africa).

The I&P WE4A Acceleration Program is part of the pan-African initiative “Investing in Young Businesses in Africa: Women Entrepreneurship in Africa” (IYBA WE4A), a partnership between the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Learn more about I&P Acceleration WE4A

On the occasion of the launch of the WE4A Acceleration program, I&P is delighted to share the perspective and ambitions of GIZ, the program's implementing partner, for women's entrepreneurship in Africa.

Amani Packmohr
IYBA WE4A Team Leader - GIZ

"Our ambition is to build a more equitable and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape — one where women-led businesses can thrive, inspire others, and shape the future of Africa’s private sector. Talent exists everywhere; our mission is to ensure that opportunity does too. "

"Across Africa, women entrepreneurs are driving a more inclusive and competitive private sector. Their capacity for innovation, resilience, and leadership fuels local economies, creates jobs, and inspires the next generation. When we propel the success of a woman entrepreneur, we activate a powerful multiplier of impact — increasing prosperity, strengthening communities, and building more sustainable local economies. 

At the same time, Africa’s green transformation offers women entrepreneurs new opportunities to innovate — to include environmentally conscious products to existing business portfolios or to create new ventures better aligned with sustainability objectives. 

Despite this potential, a persistent obstacle remains: the financing gap. Too many women entrepreneurs still struggle to access the capital, networks, and strategic support they need to grow their businesses. Bridging this gap is not simply a matter of goodwill — it is essential for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. 

The ‘Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa’ (IYBA WE4A) programme supports women-led small and growing businesses by enhancing business capacities, improving access to finance, and fostering growth in green sectors. 

Funded by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the programme is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) through its Employment Promotion for Women for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) platform. 

Running from 2024 to 2027, IYBA WE4A is proud to harness the expertise of a strong network of implementing partners, including Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), to support women entrepreneurs through key stages of growth. 

IYBA WE4A Focus Areas are:

• Entrepreneurship Training – Empowering early-stage women entrepreneurs in green sectors through gender-responsive training, mentorship, and seed capital. 
• Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development – Supporting entrepreneurial support organizations to deliver gender-responsive, green-aligned services to women-led enterprises. 
• Access to Finance – Bridging the financing gap by providing tailored financial solutions to women-led businesses ready to scale. 
• Knowledge and Networking Gateway – Offering business information, peer learning opportunities, and connections to successful role models across Africa. 

The ‘I&P Acceleration WE4A’ component of the programme brings together tailored financing products and targeted technical support for women-led enterprises in Cameroon, Uganda, Senegal, and Togo. Our goal is simple yet decisive: to remove barriers that hinder growth and ensure finance is a lever for formalization, innovation, and sustainable expansion. 

Our ambition is to build a more equitable and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape — one where women-led businesses can thrive, inspire others, and shape the future of Africa’s private sector. Talent exists everywhere; our mission is to ensure that opportunity does too."