The GOWE Program supports Women Entrepreneurs with a combination of investments and advisory services, helping their business to grow and succeed. The Program also works to build a better and more inviting business environment for women entrepreneurs.
Specifically, the program works to:
Help women-owned business gain access to a wider array of financial services, in part by lowering the collateral requirements for these businesses
Improve the management and business capacity of women owned businesses to support their growth
Build the capacity of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs), financial institutions, and other program partners to provide timely, relevant and useful business services
Provide Women Entrepreneurs with support services, mentoring and leadership development
Help SMEs gain access to finance to ensure their future growth
Target beneficiaries are GOWEs which are formally registered, women-owned enterprises that have proven growth potential. Other program beneficiaries include local finance institutions, Women Entrepreneurship Associations (WEAs) and local BDSPs.
GOWEs must meet the following requirements to participate in the program:
A legally registered small and medium enterprise
In operation, for at least two years (start-up businesses are not eligible)
At least 51% of the businesses must be owned by a woman or women
Women must manage the business at the executive level
Loan requests of up to US400,000
The Business owner/s must contribute 20% of the project’s cost
Growth potential demonstrated by a comprehensive business plan
Currently rolled out in Cameroon and Kenya, the program is supported by the African Development (AfDB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and managed by AMSCO. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the technical advisory partner.
