One million women entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas are to benefit from the connective ecosystem between women sharing expertise and accessing capital, thus dramatically accelerating economic growth. Dubbed “Connecting One Million Women in Trade (CWT)”, beneficiaries of the initiative will shift from the existing framework of acting in silence and silos and have the option to engage in top-tier business management training programs, connect with potential partners, and access funding opportunities to grow their businesses.
According to the World Bank, “Female entrepreneurs make significant contributions to economic growth and to poverty reduction around the world.” Through CWT, we will focus on scaling businesses, identifying sources of capital for women entrepreneurs, preparing women entrepreneurs in trade for growth, and developing a feeder pipeline to advance these businesses to the next level of development. This initiative will expand opportunities for women who trade and will have a secondary effect of advancing cultural diversity; “To bring women, through entrepreneurship and education, into the fullness of their economic potential, which can be the key to their empowerment in the civic and social realms as well, to sharpen a consciousness of common interests among women across boundaries of culture and class, in our own country and globally,” according to dialogueondiversity.org.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5 notes that “Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens”, CWT is a private sector innovative initiative designed to empower and catalyze women entrepreneurs engaged in trade across emerging economies. In so doing, we connect associations with a proven track record, expertise, infrastructure, and capacity. We bridge the gap for the service provider and decrease the existing culture of working in silos and silence. Specifically, through our ecosystem, we will catalyze women in trade by engaging a minimum of 10,000 business associations and cooperatives connected to a minimum of 100 women that work with 1) women ready for trade 2) women preparing to trade 3) institutions that support women who trade. Our strategy targets a minimum of 100 business associations and cooperatives per country, reaching 1 million women involved in trade throughout Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean. Collectively, these efforts will encompass representatives of 102 countries.
Over the past 14 months (October 2023-December 2025) CWT pre-launch phase has been beta-testing our initiative by engaging a coalition of the willing to include the leaders of representatives of 10% of the target audience addressing CWT objectives in a collaborative engagement strategy within Africa, The Americas, and The Caribbean. As a deliverable from the CWT pre-launch phase activities, we developed the route map to engage 1 million women in the global trade ecosystem within a 12–14 month timeframe, implementing our 4-phase model.
Our pre-launch phase featured an array of supporters to including the World Bank, George Washington University, Ronald Reagan Trade Center, United Nations Headquarters, National Black Chambers of Commerce, Prosper Africa, Amazon and others. We also engaged speakers such as Her Excellency, Chief Jewel Taylor, Former Vice President of Liberia, and Secretary-General of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, who delivered a greeting and remarks from former Ghanaian President, H.E. John Mahama. Her Excellency Chief Jewel Taylor further emphasized the priorities of women in trade and the importance of the CWT initiative and said, “When women are empowered through trade, a synergy is created which boosts economies and strengthens communities”.
Foreign Service Officer for the Africa Bureau in the U.S. Department of State, Kara Babrowski, convened a group of leaders to address policies and initiatives that will transform Africa’s financial systems. The event included Ministers of Finance, notable World Bank figures, and Central Bank Governors. “Trade is a critical engine for economic development for women. It will open new markets and drive innovation. The CWT initiative aims to harness trade power to foster economic
empowerment and sustainable development for women entrepreneurs globally”, said Babrowski.
Similarly, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. P.J. Patterson, Statesman-In-Residence at the P.J. Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy, noted: “The future of Africa is exciting. It offers tremendous possibilities for intra-Africa trade with our untapped creative potential for African youths who constitute the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world. If nurtured and supported today, they will be unconquerable in the future!”
As Secretary General of ECOWAS Ambassador’s Group in the United States and a leading advocate for effective diaspora engagement and partnership with women, “I do congratulate the incredible leadership that women of substance and distinction are making across the globe to ensure the participation of women at the decision-making arena through their 1 million women campaign. Kudos to the organizers as I look forward to supporting them all the way”, H.E. Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States and Secretary General, ECOWAS Ambassadors group in the United States.
“This is the type of initiative that needs to be supported at the highest levels of government. CWT has the potential to have a positive impact on our nation’s economy,” H.E. Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment for Nigeria (2019-2023).
The CWT pre-launch activities will conclude at a media briefing event to announce the official launch of CWT on Thursday, 12th December 2024, at Banwo & Ighodalo Law Firm, 48 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, from 1:00 PM to 8:30 PM GMT. This hybrid event, virtual and in-person, will serve as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and commitment. The series of events will feature the CWT implementation partners, operational partners, global key supporters, and highlight several Nigerian-based associations and leaders.
The event will feature distinguished business and political leaders, including those listed above, serving as CWT Champions. Other champions include:
* H.E. Epsy Campbell, former Vice President of Costa Rica and President of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
* H.E. Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment (CCT&I), Lagos State, Nigeria
* H.E. Senator Ireti Kingibe – Senate Representative For The Federal Capital Territory Senatorial District, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs
* H.E. David Commissiong, Ambassador of Barbados to CARICOM
* H.E. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria
* Dr. Anino Emuwa, President, Africa Female CEO Network
* Mrs. Udo Okonjo, Inspirational Women of Worth
Moderators:
Chanel T. Rowe Esq. Senior Counsel, Johnson & Johnson
