The International Trade Centre’s SheTrades initiative aims to connect 3 million women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses to international markets by 2021.

Under the umbrella of the SheTrades Initiative, SheTrades Invest is dedicated and focused on supporting the connection between investors and women entrepreneurs in developing markets.

Application process for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women or SMEs benefiting women

Conditions to apply:

- The enterprise must comply with at least one of the three criteria below:

1. Be at least 51% owned by woman/women;

2. Be at least 20% owned by woman/women, has at least one woman as CEO/COO/President/Vice President; and has at least 30% of the board of directors composed of women, where a board exists; or

3. Be a SME benefitting women.

- Your company must be legally registered and operating in:

- Oman

- Nigeria

- Egypt

- Rwanda

- Ghana

- Senegal

- Iraq

- South Africa

- Ivory Coast

- Tanzania

- Jordan

- Uganda

- Kenya

- Zambia

- Your company would preferably be operating in one of the following sectors:

- Education

- Healthcare

- Agriculture

- Agri-Business

- Manufacturing

- Water

- Energy

- Sanitation

- Textile & Apparel

- IT and BPO

- Tourism

- Beauty & Wellness

How to apply:

- Fill out the survey - link HERE;

If you have any questions please contact [email protected].

*Please note, only selected applicants will be contacted.

Benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women or SMEs benefiting women:

- Access to a range of local, regional and global investors and impact investors;

- Access to capacity building/technical Assistance from ITC;

- Increased level of competitiveness and a deeper understanding and knowledge of business practices, trade and investment.

Deadline for application - 31 January 2019

Application process for Investors 

Conditions to apply:

- Financial institutions looking to invest particularly in Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by women or SMEs benefitting women.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in investing in women-owned businesses, please e-mail: [email protected]

Benefits for investors and financial institutions:

- Support  the Sustainable Development Goals through a gender-lens investment approach;

Unlock an untapped trillion dollar market with an attractive risk and return profile; and

Build a pipeline with an investment-ready pool of diverse women–owned businesses from developing and emerging economies.

- SheTrades Invest has developed a comprehensive filtering mechanism that matches eligible women-owned businesses seeking for capital with investors. In addition, SheTrades provides technical assistance to improve the investment readiness of enterprises through online and in-person workshops, trainings, and mentoring.

- Connecting women entrepreneurs with investors will address and contribute to four important Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDG 1: No poverty, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 8: Decent work and Economic Growth and SDG 17: Partnership for the goals) by:

1. Educating women entrepreneurs on business practices and requirements for participation in trade;

2. Driving competitiveness of Women Business Enterprises;

3. Bridging the gap in access to financial services for women entrepreneurs and reducing gender inequality;

4. Connecting women-owned businesses with investors;

5. Investing in women’s economic empowerment and promoting an inclusive economic growth;

6. Unlocking a largely untapped trillion dollar market with a potentially attractive risk and return profile.

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