Bringing together women business owners from across the continent to discuss strategies towards women’s empowerment is no small feat.
Absa Bank, in partnership with the ITC SheTrades Hub, successfully gathered numerous delegates from various African countries and some from the UK at the Absa InspireMe Conference 2024 which was held in Kenya.
The goal was to swap ideas, make new connections, and form the perfect partnerships to help women-led businesses thrive and grow across the continent.
Reports from the World Bank reveal that women-led businesses globally often lag behind those run by men, thanks to social norms, unequal laws, and gaps in education, resources, assets, and networks.
The remedy to help women scale up their businesses? Sharing information and giving them early exposure to key industries and influential people.
“At Absa, we believe that empowering women is not just about individual success. It is about societal transformation. It is about job creation and poverty alleviation,” said Audrey Abakah, Absa Ghana’s Head of SME, Agency Banking and Partnerships.
The InspireMe Conference 2024 empowered women entrepreneurs by offering access to new markets, networking opportunities, and a platform to connect directly with potential buyers and partners from across Africa and the UK.
“That is why our Women’s Banking Proposition is uniquely designed to support women financially, strengthen their capacity and create network and access to market platforms like the Inspire Me Conference,” she added.
InspireMe Conference: Key takeaways from the largest gathering of women entrepreneurs
ITC SheTrades Hub
Collectively, the International Trade Center (ITC) is a hybrid agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. They help SMEs in growing economies step up their game on the global stage.
The Inspire Me Conference 2024 owes its success to the ITC SheTrades Hub. Launched in April 2018 and bankrolled by the UK Government, this resource centre is all about creating a gender-inclusive ecosystem.
It equips women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to tap into market and investment opportunities.
Here are some of the ITC SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme since its launch:
- They’ve helped 4,000+ women entrepreneurs in the Commonwealth and key trading nations.
- Helped generate over Sh. 4.4 billion (£32 million) in sales for women-led businesses in sectors ranging from tourism, agrifood, textiles to IT.
- Supported the creation of over 6,600 jobs, of which over 70% went to women, in those enterprises and their supply chains.
- Worked with almost 100 business support organizations, among which 13 organizations including Absa Bank are hosting SheTrades Hubs.
- Created 12 SheTrades Outlook policy briefs and engaged officials from 33 countries to share best practices through the SheTrades Outlook Network.
Mr. Jamal Hussain, the UK Regional Trade Advisor to East Africa delivered a presentation on export opportunities available through the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme and Economic Partnerships Agreements.
During the Absa InspireMe Conference, alongside the trade mission, women-led businesses in agrifood, textiles, handicrafts, and accessories met face-to-face with UK and African buyers.
“At ITC, we work to deliver concrete results for women in trade. Our collaboration with the SheTrades Hubs and the InspireMe Conference is providing ground for women entrepreneurs to strike business deals with corporations from across the continent and the United Kingdom,” said the ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.