US pledges $10,000 for women in business

The women who cut across 14 African countries, are to apply for the grant. Only alumni of a US government-sponsored exchange programmes are eligible to apply.
Speaking to the press in Accra yesterday, the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Madam Marie Royce mentioned that women who have already initiated their business plans are the ones the US government would be targeting for the grant, adding that the applicant must not have only an idea but a business plan. 

“We are giving African women the opportunity to apply for a $10,000 grant to use it for a community based projects in their own country. The US government is doing this to help women upgrade their own businesses and develop their skills,” she further said.

When asked of the number of women the grant will be given to, Madam Royce indicated “we’ll make sure we provide the grant to as many women as budgeted for by the US government”.

The Assistant Secretary of State urged multi-national companies to come aboard to help with the grant in order to empower women in their various endeavours. 

The women, she noted, would have the chance to share experiences, gain knowledge and expand their professional  network across sectors to create a foundation for mentorship, networking and partnerships that support vibrant communities of women entrepreneurs. 

A beneficiary of a US government-sponsored programme, Milly Namwanje, a Ugandan, stated that she is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow. 

Madam Namwanje noted that the programme has assisted her in networking and building of capacity. 

“Am into coffee business and my company is Tasty Kaawa. After attending the programme, it shaped my idea as to how to go about it,” she pointed. 

Touching on challenges, she averred that processing of the cocoa was a headache because  of lack of a processing machine, adding that “sometimes the farmers sell their cocoa to the highest bidder and so it becomes difficult getting it”.

The 14 countries are Cameroon, Cote d’ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zambabwe.