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The Wonder Program

The program aims to strengthen the capacity of 150 women entrepreneurs through training, to enhance business productivity and growth, in a period of 3 years. This will be achieved by equipping them with skills, knowledge and tools to optimise and refocus their businesses for growth and scale up.

About the Program.

Africa has the highest number of female entrepreneurs but the least supportive entrepreneurial frameworks. This means that the design and roll-out of innovative financial solutions that offer women access to markets and bring them into the formal financial system can be key to breaking barriers for women-led businesses.

The WONDER investor readiness and business development accelerator program is designed to build 30 formal women-led enterprises with special regard to their innovative potential, as well as to their social and environmental sustainability for the next one year.

This will be achieved by equipping them with skills, knowledge, and tools to optimize and refocus their businesses for growth and scale-up.

The impact of the project will be demonstrated through an innovative approach to improve African enterprises’ access to finance, and delivery of training/services to combine skills enhancement and business acceleration, and individual mentorship.

The WONDER program implemented in Kenya and Cameroon has been funded by the African Development Bank under the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative.

The program aims to strengthen the capacity of 150 women entrepreneurs (90 – Kenya, 60 – Cameroon) through training, to enhance business productivity and growth, in a period of 3 years.

AFAWA’s primary objective is to bridge the $42 billion finance gap for women by unlocking $ 5 billion by 2026 to lend to women entrepreneurs in Africa.

About AFAWA.

Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), an initiative of the African Development Bank, specifically focuses on increasing inclusive finance for women entrepreneurs on the continent.

AFAWA’s primary objective is to bridge the $42 billion finance gap for women entrepreneurs in Africa and to unlock their entrepreneurial capacity and full potential.

E4Impact Foundation is the leading Alliance of universities, companies, and institutions to grow a new generation of African impact entrepreneurs and to promote partnerships between Europe and Africa.

Its main aim is to enhance the sustainable development of fast-growing economies by training impact entrepreneurs and scaling the growth of their businesses.

E4Impact currently offers its programs in 20 African countries with the goal of training over 3,000 entrepreneurs and establishing 1,000 new enterprises and thousands of new jobs in the formal economy.

Application Criteria.

1. Women-owned enterprises or enterprises with women as majority shareholders

2. Preferably, enterprises with women at management level; CEO/COO

3. Where a Board of Directors exist, at least 50% of the composition should be women

4. Enterprise should have the capacity to absorb a loan size from $ 5,000

5. Enterprise has a minimum of 5 employees, with at least 50% being women

6. Have annual sales of $100,000

7. The enterprise should be registered in Kenya

8. An enterprise serving women market significantly

Benefits of the Program.

Access to expert coaches and mentors to optimise their idea.

Flexible Solutions

Participate in a 9 month tailored accelerator program

Networking opportunities across the region.

Access to potential investors.

Collaboration opportunities with peers in the industry.

Recognition and publicity through the WONDER website page and related publications.

E4Impact currently offers its programs in 12 African countries with a goal of training over 3,000 entrepreneurs.

Application Timelines.

25th September, 2023

Launch of the Call for Applications

25 October, 2023

Call for Applications Window Closes

8 November, 2023

Notification to the applicants forming the Cohort

13 November 2023

Onboarding of the Cohort

14th - 28th November 2023

Contracting and Baseline Survey

14th December 2023

Official Unveiling of the Cohort

Program FAQ's.

The WONDER investor readiness and business development Accelerator program is designed to build 30 formal women-led enterprises with special regard to their innovative potential, as well as to their social and environmental sustainability for the next one year.

  • Access to expert coaches and mentors to optimise their idea
  • Participate in a 9 month tailored accelerator program
  • Networking opportunities across the region
  • Access to potential investors
  • Collaboration opportunities with peers in the industry
  • Recognition and publicity through the
  • WONDER website page and related publications
  • Women owned enterprises or enterprises with women as majority shareholders.
  • Preferably, enterprises with women at management level; CEO/COO.
  • Where a Board of Directors exist, at least 50% composition should be women.
  • Enterprise should have the capacity to absorb a loan size between $5,000 and $1,000,000.
  • Enterprise has between 5 to 300 employees; with at least 50% as women.
  • Have annual sales of between $100,000 and $15,000,000.
  • The enterprise should be registered in Kenya.
  • An enterprise serving women market significantly

Yes, there is no application or participation fee charged.

Click here to access the application: Application link

The applications will go through a 3 step selection process that will involve:

  • Preliminary screening according to the  application criteria
  • Identification of semi-finalists.
  • Review and selection of the top 50 final enterprises(25 cohort 2, 25 cohort 3)

The entrepreneurs will receive technical assistance to strengthen the business and financial model of the enterprises. They will also receive customised training boot camps.

In case of any questions, send an email to accelerator.kenya@e4impact.org or call us on +254712526952.

Visit our website to subscribe to our newsletter to receive information on ongoing or future opportunities. You can also keep up with us on our socials.

If it is before the close of applications, you can contact the team via accelerator.kenya@e4impact.org and your submitted application can be reverted to the draft stage to allow you to edit it.

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