Empowering African youth and women green social entrepreneurs

This project is structured around two different but integrated strands of work, both of which will contribute to the promotion of gender equality and inclusion in green innovation, incubation, acceleration and entrepreneurship in Africa. The project will support a pipeline of investible and gender-diverse green start-ups for impact investors’ consideration. It will also inform the transformation of the policy ecosystem into a more conducive environment for the development and sustainability of such businesses by promoting sound national green policies and strategies to spur innovation and private-sector action.

The first strand of work will focus on incubation and acceleration. It will bring together relevant donor ventures and business angel networks (investors who specialize in the initial phase of start-ups) interested in green innovation in Africa. The second strand of work will focus on policy and sustainability considerations. It will bring together policy actors, institutions and strategic stakeholders at the pan-African level as well as at the global level.

Both strands will be integrated into a comprehensive framework of actions that promote COVID-19 recovery efforts centred around women and youth leadership in green entrepreneurship and low-carbon economic strategies across Africa.