Empowering Women in Trade: Apply Now for the African Women in Processing (AWIP) Forum at IATF2025

The African Union Commission (AUC) is looking on dynamic African girls entrepreneurs to take part in a transformative initiative—the African Women in Processing (AWIP) Forum—set to happen on the sidelines of the Fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria, from 4 to 10 September 2025.

The AWIP Forum isn’t just one other enterprise occasion—it’s a strategic platform designed to raise the voices and visibility of girls engaged in processing and worth addition throughout the continent. It helps the broader agenda of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aiming to extend intra-African commerce and empower girls to take heart stage in the continent’s financial transformation.

Why the AWIP Forum Matters

Africa is brimming with girls entrepreneurs who’re creating worth from native assets—including sophistication, high quality, and creativity to uncooked supplies throughout sectors resembling agriculture, cosmetics, trend, meals processing, and extra. Yet, these companies typically face vital boundaries to scaling, financing, and exporting. The AWIP Forum offers a uncommon alternative for these women-led companies to join straight with potential buyers, distributors, policymakers, and worldwide patrons, all below one roof.

Hosted in tandem with the largest commerce truthful on the continent, AWIP at IATF2025 will supply unmatched publicity and assist for growth-oriented companies able to scale their operations past native markets.

Objectives of the Forum

The African Union, in organizing AWIP, has outlined key objectives:

• Facilitate market entry for women-owned processing enterprises.

• Link entrepreneurs with buyers, financing establishments, and continental markets.

• Offer coaching classes on export readiness, packaging, high quality requirements, and branding.

• Showcase modern, value-added merchandise made by African girls entrepreneurs.

These aims are aligned with the broader AfCFTA objectives of constructing resilient intra-African commerce channels which might be inclusive and supportive of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), notably these led by girls.

What You Will Gain

Participants chosen for the AWIP Forum will profit from:

• Targeted knowledgeable coaching designed to extend your competitiveness in continental and worldwide markets.

• Business-to-business (B2B) classes the place you’ll pitch your merchandise and kind potential commerce offers.

• Panel discussions and workshops that delve into developments, challenges, and options round commerce, processing, and scaling.

• Networking occasions that supply direct entry to influential figures in commerce, funding, and coverage.

Additionally, you’ll have the likelihood to exhibit your merchandise to hundreds of holiday makers at IATF2025, which gathers tons of of exhibitors and stakeholders from throughout Africa and the world.

Who Should Apply?

The AWIP Forum seeks established girls entrepreneurs who:

• Are nationals of African nations and are actively concerned in processing or worth addition.

• Operate registered companies that display maturity and robust progress potential.

• Show innovation in their processes, expertise, or product strains.

• Are fluent in English or French.

• Are dedicated to collaborating, sharing experiences, and constructing networks throughout and after the occasion.

Women-led companies which might be contributing considerably to native worth chains or have scalable, high-impact options will likely be prioritized in the choice course of.

Programme Format

The AWIP Forum will characteristic:

• Panel discussions with consultants in commerce, entrepreneurship, and gender coverage.

• B2B conferences for direct deal-making and enterprise matchmaking.

• Interactive coaching workshops on export certification, high quality assurance, digital advertising and marketing, and commerce logistics.

• Product exhibition cubicles showcasing the better of women-led African innovation.

• Networking occasions to foster collaboration and future partnerships.

Application Process

Interested candidates can submit their functions through the official portal

Contact for Inquiries: AWIP2025@AfricanUnion.org

Final Thoughts

As the continent charts a daring path towards financial integration and sustainable improvement, African girls in processing are important actors in constructing Africa’s industrial capability and prosperity. The AWIP Forum offers a sensible and strategic step towards recognizing, celebrating, and supporting these entrepreneurs.

If you’re able to scale your small business, broaden your affect, and contribute to Africa’s commerce narrative, that is your likelihood. Don’t miss the alternative to be at the coronary heart of continental commerce discussions and progress at IATF2025.

For extra alternatives, go to Opportunities for Youth web site

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