Women entrepreneurs and leaders across Africa are overcoming barriers and achieving significant milestones through supportive networks. These networks enhance women’s leadership roles, influence gender-responsive policies, and promote financial inclusion, positively transforming economies and communities.
Developing Women’s Leadership
Networks play an essential role in supporting women leaders in finance and entrepreneurship. They provide platforms for leadership growth and policy influence.
In Ghana, the first National Women in Finance Platform advocates for financial policies that support women. Mozambique created the Women in Finance Taskforce, increasing women’s roles in financial decisions. In Nigeria, a network leader joined the Gender Advisory Committee and supported the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy and Action Plan, mentoring women entrepreneurs and sharing resources. Zambia saw a network leader appointed Country Director and Chair of COMFWB, enhancing women’s leadership in finance. Kenya demonstrated success through an Online Leadership Development Programme, where a participant became MD/CEO of UBA.
Gender Mainstreaming and Policy Impact
Networks significantly contributed to integrating gender strategies into economic recovery and financial inclusion. Major achievements include adopting gender standards in COVID-19 recovery efforts in Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia, ensuring policies meet women’s specific financial needs.
Strategic partnerships with financial institutions like EY, Old Mutual, Atlantique Bank, ECOBANK, Jaiz Bank, CAC, and KACITA expanded women’s access to financial services. KACITA alone serves 2.3 million traders who now benefit from these inclusive financial services.
In Zimbabwe, NFNV partnered with Finmark Trust and the Reserve Bank, conducting critical research from 2012 to 2014. This research, collecting gender-specific financial data, shaped Zimbabwe’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (2016-2020), highlighting how networks drive positive change.
Sustainability and Network Expansion
Networks developed clear strategies for sustainability, growth, and impact. They established 10 communities of practice to help women entrepreneurs access finance, markets, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration.
The networks expanded into Somalia and Guinea Bissau, now covering 20 countries, and further strengthening women’s economic empowerment across Africa.
To amplify advocacy internationally, GMT created the Expert Leaders Group (ELG) in 2021. Led by H.E. Mrs. Graça Machel, this high-level group includes prominent African women in finance, central banks, and regulation. ELG priorities include:
Increasing women’s financial inclusionEnsuring accountability for gender equalitySupporting digital entrepreneurship for womenIncreasing investments in women-owned businessesForming strategic partnerships for impactful policies
Beyond economic growth, women’s networks positively impact communities by promoting education, healthcare, and development. GMT networks demonstrate that empowering women benefits whole communities, leading to resilience, inclusion, and prosperity.
GMT plans to empower 100,000 women entrepreneurs across 30 African countries. It aims to create or adopt seven new sector-specific women’s networks in Manufacturing, Transport Logistics, Mining, ICT and Digital Economy, Health, Education, and Tourism. GMT’s belief is clear: unity creates strength, providing safe spaces for dialogue, collaboration, and mutual support.
