AfDB unveils document to spur growth of women entrepreneurs.

The publication showcases how African women entrepreneurs are securing capital, scaling businesses, creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. 

It features and profiles 25 African women entrepreneurs, many of them directly supported through AFAWA from 17 countries, to built successful, growing enterprises in agribusiness, fashion, finance, green energy, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, retail, security, and water management.

Financing Business Growth features the experiences of African women entrepreneurs as they navigate the realities of financing business growth. Through interviews and case studies, the publication highlights the strategies they have used to secure capital and expand their businesses. 

It offers practical lessons on building investor confidence, strengthening operations, and scaling sustainable enterprises.

The Bank Group insists that the document serves as a practical resource for women entrepreneurs, financial institutions, policymakers, and business support organisations, as it provides actionable guidance grounded in lived experience, supporting entrepreneurs to understand what investors and lenders look for and to position their businesses for growth.

The resulting resource demonstrates how greater financial access transforms women-led businesses across Africa. By documenting successful financing journeys, the playbook highlights the role of targeted financial support, strong business fundamentals and supportive ecosystems to unlock growth.

The Founder of Lionesses of Africa, Melanie Hawken, said playbook is founded on a simple belief that “some of the most valuable lessons a woman entrepreneur can learn come from another woman who has successfully navigated the journey before her”.

Hawken said drawing on firsthand experience of overcoming challenges and securing funding, the playbook “offers practical guidance to help more women entrepreneurs unlock the capital they need to grow and succeed."

The publication supports the AfDB Group's Four Cardinal Points vision by sharing practical lessons that enable women entrepreneurs access finance, grow stronger businesses, create jobs, and drive more inclusive economic growth. 

It also promotes entrepreneurship and private-sector development as pathways to unlock Africa's demographic potential.

AFAWA Coordinator, Melissa Basque-Roux, said the playbook embodies AfDB’s vision for Africa's future. 

“At AFAWA, we know that when women entrepreneurs gain access to finance, they do far more than grow businesses, create jobs, strengthen communities and drive economic transformation,” Basque-Roux said. 

The playbook, Basque-Roux added, highlights what is possible when women entrepreneurs thrive and provide practical guidance to support more founders follow that path”. 

The publication expands research on Africa's gender financing gap, by amplifying the real-world financing realities of women entrepreneurs across diverse sectors.

Lionesses of Africa connects more than 1.8 million women entrepreneurs across 54 African nations as well as the Diaspora in Europe and North America. 

Digital platforms, business resources, research and entrepreneur support initiatives, are transforming Africa’s female entrepreneurs. The organisation partnered with AFAWA to ensure that the playbook reflects the realities facing African women entrepreneurs.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3861 of Tuesday July 28, 2026