Women and youth-led small businesses in South Africa and Kenya will soon gain access to digital, financial and entrepreneurial training.
This will be done through a new partnership between the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) SheTrades initiative and Visa.
The programme, which was announced at the recent Global SME Ministerial Meeting in Johannesburg, will tackle barriers such as limited access to finance, digital tools and tailored business support.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to closing the digital and financial inclusion gap for African entrepreneurs,” said ITC executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.
The African Development Bank estimates that narrowing disparities between what women and youth earn could raise economic output by as much as 34%.
To address these gaps, the initiative aims to deliver a hybrid learning experience, including in-person and online training modules covering financial literacy, investment readiness, digital payments and the integration of artificial intelligence in business.
“Women and youth, when fully engaged in trade, become powerful agents of change in their communities and countries,” said Coke-Hamilton.
Participants will also benefit from mentorship and networking through the Visa She’s Next programme, which will be embedded within the capacity-building platform.
Visa’s head of Southern and Eastern Africa, Michael Berner, said the initiative reflected the company’s ongoing commitment to driving equitable access to the digital economy and unlocking opportunities for underrepresented communities.
The programme will be rolled out in collaboration with local partners, including the SheTrades Hubs hosted by ABSA Bank Kenya and South Africa’s Small Enterprise and Finance Development Agency.
Microsoft partners will contribute learning content focused on artificial intelligence, which will be made publicly accessible through the SheTrades Academy.
“By equipping women and youth entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive, we are investing in long-term economic resilience and sustainable small business growth,” said Berner.
The initiative will start with a webinar on 31 July and will be followed by sessions on AI integration in business on 28 August and financial planning on 18 September.
