Clinton Global Initiative Recognizes African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP)

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
September 26, 2014

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) has selected the State Department’s African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) as one of this year’s CGI Commitment to Action honorees for its program to help the women entrepreneurs develop and integrate their businesses into local supply chains.

Through the support of the Clinton Global Initiative, AWEP will launch the “Missing Middle of Africa Supply Chain Project,” a program that will facilitate supplier development opportunities for African women entrepreneurs. This CGI Commitment to Action will reach more than 5,000 beneficiaries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This program will significantly increase the funding opportunities available to AWEP members, enable greater access to global markets and increase trade and investment in Africa.

Working with partner organizations – the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the African Diaspora Marketplace, the Small Enterprise Assistance Funds, Western Union, Deloitte Consulting, the Women’s Presidents Organization and WEConnect International — AWEP entrepreneurs will develop strategic mentoring and partnerships with U.S. women-owned firms.

AWEP members include more than 1,600 businesses and 22 chapters throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Chapters are located in Angola, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

CGI’s commitment to AWEP was announced at the 2014 CGI Annual Meeting on September 21–24, 2014 in New York City.