The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative have announced a major expansion of the She Wins Africa programme, increasing the number of beneficiaries from 100 to 1,000 female entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa.
In a joint statement, IFC and ASR Africa confirmed that 1,000 female entrepreneurs would now benefit instead of the initial 100 selected at the start of the programme.
“We realised that 100 is just the beginning for a region like Africa. When you look at the impact it created and the kind of access to capital and markets it gave to those women entrepreneurs, you see this is a programme worth scaling. Now we’re moving from 100 to 1,000, and we’re doing it strategically through segmentation, from start-ups to growth-stage and scale-up companies,” both organisations said in a joint press release.
The first phase of She Wins Africa selected 100 women-led startups from thousands of applicants across the region. During this phase, participants collectively mobilised more than $4m in financing from external investors and partners.
The funding was secured through a mix of technical assistance, targeted advisory support, investor engagement, and catalytic grant envelopes. These measures helped reduce risk for private capital providers and supported faster business expansion for participating companies.
Officials overseeing the programme highlighted its broader economic importance for the continent.
IFC’s Regional Gender Lead for Africa, Marieme Camara, said, “When you look at the impact it created and the kind of access to capital and markets it gave to those women entrepreneurs, you see this is a programme worth scaling. Now we’re moving from 100 to 1,000, and we’re doing it strategically, from start-ups to growth-stage and scale-up companies.”
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, added, “This expansion will create a more sustainable impact and extend the programme’s geographical reach. What these women do is not just for individual countries; it strengthens the economy of the whole continent.”
She Wins Africa is designed to support women-led small and growing businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme delivers technical services aimed at strengthening business foundations. These include coaching, investment-readiness training, tailored advisory support beyond standard modules, and investor matchmaking that connects startups with potential backers.
In its first phase, the programme provided 123 hours of structured technical support. It also facilitated 275 connections between founders and investors across regional and international markets, while mobilising 100 mentors to work directly with participating entrepreneurs.
The initial cohort exceeded early expectations, with 17 women-led enterprises securing external financing. Others also positioned themselves for greater growth opportunities.
The expanded next phase will support both early-stage ventures and growth-stage companies with tailored technical support, investment facilitation, and strategic mentorship, deepening regional reach and strengthening the pipeline of investment-ready women-led businesses across Africa.
