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Small Business
Kenya Launches Second Phase of the NYOTA Project to Empower Young Entrepreneurs
President William Ruto on Thursday officially launched the second phase of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, opening a new chapter...
Tony Elumelu Foundation Opens 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s most influential entrepreneurship philanthropy, has opened applications for its 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme, calling on ambitious founders from...
New DEG Impact Facility Targets Flexible Growth Capital for Small Businesses in East Africa
DEG Impact has announced the launch of a new partnership that aims to reshape how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in East Africa...
Uganda Opens New Opportunities for Young Green Entrepreneurs
Uganda’s young innovators working in the green and circular economy now have a programme that is ready to support their growth. The Green...
Powering Nigeria’s SMEs: A Bright Investment for Economic Growth
In a significant move to bolster Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), impact investment firm All On has announced a US$250,000 follow-on investment...
Zambia Deepens Regional Trade Ties as 50 Firms Join Mission to DRC
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has mobilised over 50 Zambian enterprises on a high-level trade mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),...
NSBC South Africa Honours Its 2025 Small Business Champions
South Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit took centre stage this week as the 2025 South African Small Business Awards unveiled the country’s Top 20 entrepreneurs...
Orange Corners Set to Empower Young Entrepreneurs in South Sudan
Applications for Orange Corners South Sudan’s fourth cohort are closing soon. The six-month, in-person incubation program in Juba is designed to equip young...
Shabaka Meisha: A Lifeline of Hope for South Sudan’s Vulnerable Families
Amidst years of economic decline, conflict and repeated climate shocks, South Sudan is taking steps to invest in its most valuable resource, its...
CRDB Bank Foundation Expands Opportunities for Green MSMEs in Tanzania
As Tanzania accelerates its shift toward a green economy, new opportunities are opening up for entrepreneurs committed to sustainability. The Ajira Ye2 Project,...
New Financing and Support Program Launched for Women Entrepreneurs in Kenya
In Kenya, women-led businesses often face persistent barriers when trying to secure financing, a challenge that limits their ability to grow and compete....
New Financing Model Unlocks Growth for SMEs in Kenya and Uganda
Access to fair and flexible finance remains one of the largest barriers for SMEs in Africa, yet these businesses are also the backbone...
Supporting Tunisia’s Young Changemakers: Moovjee 2025 Application Now Open
Moovjee Tunisia has announced its 2025 call for applications, presenting young entrepreneurs with a rare chance to access mentorship, financial support and international...
Africa’s Best Entrepreneurs Compete for $1.5M Prize
Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) has once again ignited hope and ambition across the continent by announcing its 20 semi-finalists for the 2025 competition....
Economic Growth: DBN’s Strategy to Empower Nigerian MSMEs
Behind every thriving community in Nigeria, there is a micro, small or medium enterprise (MSME) fueling growth, creating jobs and fostering innovation. Whether...
New Dawn for Nigerian Startups
In a significant move to bolster Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the 8thGear Hub & Venture Studio has announced a strategic partnership with the Development...
From Sketches to COO: Olalekan Akinyele’s Rise to the Top
Olalekan Akinyele’s journey from a young boy with a passion for drawing in Lagos to a prominent entrepreneur and creative leader exemplifies resilience,...
Mozambique Unveils $40m Guarantee Fund to Unlock Entrepreneurial Capital for 15,000 SMEs
Mozambique has placed entrepreneurship at the centre of its economic renewal strategy with the launch of a US$40 million Mutual Guarantee Fund, a...
Standard Bank Namibia Launches Blue Growth Series to Uplift Small Businesses
Standard Bank Namibia, in partnership with the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy (NIFA), has launched a four-month pilot initiative to support 40 micro,...
Alibaba and ITC Back African SMEs in $330,000 Digital Trade Breakthrough
For decades, African entrepreneurs have been told that global markets are “out of reach.” Today, that narrative is rapidly shifting, thanks to a...
Green Jobs for All: Africa’s Path to Inclusive Growth
The African continent is at a pivotal moment in its journey toward sustainable development, with the need to balance economic growth with environmental...
Unlocking Opportunities for Women-Led MSMEs in Nigeria
In the rapidly evolving landscape of global trade and digital economy, women-led businesses in Nigeria are emerging as powerful drivers of economic growth...
SMEs in Ingquza Hill Can Now Apply for Equipment Grants
Small businesses and cooperatives in South Africa’s Eastern Cape district of Ingquza Hill have been invited to apply for municipal funding aimed at...
Digitopia: Egypt’s New Innovation Challenge Empowering Young Tech Talent
Egypt is opening new doors for young innovators with the launch of Digitopia, a national competition designed to turn ideas into real-world digital...
Namibia’s Grassroots Capitalism Finds New Champions in Omaheke
In the austere expanses of eastern Namibia, far from the fluorescent glare of stock markets and venture capital circles, a quieter kind of...
Visa and ITC Expand SheTrades to Empower Africa’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
In a significant move to strengthen the entrepreneurial backbone of sub-Saharan Africa, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Visa have launched a regional...
Back to Basics: A Catalyst to Empower Ghana’s Entrepreneurs
On 25 July 2025, Ghana witnessed a transformative gathering at the Silver Star Tower, where JA Ghana and Boxplay Ventures hosted an impactful...
South Sudan Launches High-Impact Initiative to Support Women Entrepreneurs
More than 1,000 women in South Sudan are stepping into entrepreneurship with renewed confidence, backed by a national initiative that aims to equip...
Turning Challenges into Opportunities for Gambian Women and Youth
The Gambia, a small West African nation renowned for its vibrant culture and rich history, has over half of its population living below...
$10M Swiss Grant to ITC Targets Growth of African Entrepreneurs
In a significant boost to Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, Switzerland has pledged CHF 8 million (approximately US$10 million) to the International Trade Centre (ITC)...
New Online Program Set to Transform Women-Owned SMEs in Kenya
A new partnership between Equity Bank Kenya, Equity Group Foundation and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is set to transform the entrepreneurial landscape...
Strategic SME Support: Zambia’s New Investment Platform Champions Local Innovation
Zambia recently launched the Growth Investment Partners Zambia (GIP Zambia), an investment platform that will invest over $300 million in local small and...
Iyanuoluwa Joseph Akinnusi Puts Business Footing on the Map
Across Nigeria and the broader African continent, entrepreneurship is often born out of necessity rather than passion or innovation. For many, starting a...
Inclusive Growth: Generation Ghana’s Youth Empowerment Drive
Over the past two years, a transformative wave has been sweeping through Ghana’s youth community, driven by a pioneering initiative known as Generation...
New Grant Fuels Women’s Business Skills in Northern Mozambique
The Government of Norway and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are investing USD 2.8 million in a three-year initiative to support women and youth entrepreneurs...
Kenya’s Climate-Smart SMEs Selected for U.S.–Japan Innovation Program
A new chapter is unfolding in Kenya’s climate innovation landscape as 11 bold small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are welcomed into the Green...
UNIDO Launches New Funding Round for Egypt’s Green Businesses
The future of business in Egypt is turning green and for good reason. The environmental and economic benefits of circular practices are becoming...
MSMEDA’s Funding Strategy Brings Equitable Growth to Egypt’s MSMEs
Egypt’s entrepreneurial sector has seen steady growth in recent years but few developments match the scale and impact of the Micro, Small and...
New OECD-Egypt Report Lays Roadmap for Small Business Transformation
Egyptian entrepreneurs and small business owners are set to benefit from a newly launched policy framework that aims to unlock the full potential...
New Trade Finance Facility to Empower Mauritanian Entrepreneurs and SMEs
In Mauritania, access to finance remains a significant barrier for entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses. Despite an abundance...
Why Circular Economy Support Is Critical for Africa’s Future Growth
As the demand for climate-resilient and resource-efficient solutions grows, Rwanda’s youth are responding with creativity and drive. The AfriCircular Innovators Programme is accelerating...
Empowering Women’s Entrepreneurs through Reliable Data
In a significant stride towards advancing gender equality and empowering women entrepreneurs across Africa, the African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with key...
Lesotho’s 5G Surge: Laying the Foundation for a Youth-Driven Digital Economy
A major shift in Lesotho’s digital future is underway, as Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) spearheads a bold nationwide 5G network expansion that promises...
The Woman Behind 180,000 Followers and R4,000-a-Day Cake Sales
In Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, a driven young woman has turned her passion into a purpose-driven brand, gaining recognition in South Africa’s culinary and...
How Sosai’s Renewable Energy Projects Are Empowering Women in Nigeria
In the heart of northern Nigeria, a region often characterized by its resilience amid adversity, a remarkable story of female entrepreneurship and transformative...
New Measures to Protect Small Businesses from Protest-Driven Losses
Kenya’s government is stepping in to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the aftermath of nationwide protests that left a trail...
Soil, Data and the Future of African Farming
African agriculture stands at a turning point. While the continent holds over 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, millions of smallholder farmers...
MTN Pulse Youth Hustle Hub Returns with R1 Million Prize
The hustle is on, and it’s louder, bigger and more empowering than ever. MTN Pulse Youth Hustle Hub is back for a second...
Against All Odds: The Sudanese Women Launching Businesses After War
When bombs began to fall over Khartoum in April 2023, many fled with nothing but the hope of return. For Sudanese women displaced...
International Study Tour Opens New Doors for Somalia’s Startup Ecosystem
In a move that could reshape the entrepreneurial landscape in Somalia, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the European...
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