African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative Program 2025 | Apply Now
The African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative(AWEC) is an annual innovative 12-month, leadership, business management, and capacity-building program that empowers 200 female entrepreneurs annually.
The program uses a collaborative learning approach to create immediate business impact and cultivate a pan-African cooperative of entrepreneurs, experts, and allies. The blended-learning model in which most activities take place digitally ensures AWEC overcomes the traditional confines of in-person training programs and enables them to impact entrepreneurs across the continent and diaspora.
AWEC Learning Model
From June each year, AWEC Fellows embark on a challenging and rigorous growth process that requires a significant time commitment of 4-6 hours per week for 11 months. Using online and offline approaches, AWEC delivers both content and learning experiences remotely, enabling Fellows the flexibility to complete their work from anywhere they have connectivity.
This remote learning provides optional opportunities for high-performing Fellows to convene at in-person and virtual AWEC events. The AWEC program has no fees attached however, to participate in AWEC’s core program, Fellows may incur travel or data expenses if they choose to attend events.
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4 Pillars of AWEC Learning
The four major pillars of the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative program are;
- Interactive Learning – Online and in-person learning opportunities led by business experts and academics
- High-Quality Mentoring – One-on-one mentoring from senior business professionals
- Applied Assignments – Individual applied learning assignments and collaborative team projects
- Peer Network – Online and offline peer networking and feedback
AWEC Mentorship Program Structure
The program curriculum is designed to meet the needs of African businesswomen and entrepreneurs. Each month, program Fellows participate in live webinars led by renowned business and academic thought leaders, thereafter, assignments are given to challenge Fellows to apply their newfound knowledge to their businesses.
Some of the program instructors are experts from Google, Lagos Business School, Facebook, Ogilvy, CRE Venture Capital, and many others.
As a result of their expertise and mentorship, AWEC Fellows not only gain rare insights from industry titans in group learning settings but also have the opportunity to develop one-on-one relationships with mentors.
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AWEC Fellows Makeup
There are 1,000 women in the AWEC community representing 53 African countries and the diaspora. Some of these women are veteran business owners seeking an extra edge to scale their enterprises, while others are in their first year and want to create a sound financial and management foundation for their businesses. Still others are career women who have nurtured an aspiration to strike out on their own and are seeking AWEC’s mini-MBA experience to jumpstart their ideas.
AWEC embraces the diverse experiences and knowledge that Fellows bring to the cohorts. The range of business experiences, industry knowledge, and functional areas of expertise create a rich community from which to learn. The cooperative draws its strength from the knowledge and effort that each member is willing to share.
Benefits of African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative Cohort
After a successful participation in the 12-month fellows program, participants can;
- Form connections with a diverse network of African women entrepreneurs
- Establish a relationship with a senior business mentor and captains of industries
- Develop and Strengthen, your leadership, and business management skills
- Gain skills in finance, marketing, and strategy needed to grow and scale your enterprise
- Develop a toolkit of soft skills, including self-confidence, resilience, collaboration, and cross-cultural communications
How to Apply for African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative Program
To begin your application for cohort 8, head over to the AWEC program application portal here and fill out the application form. Application for this section opens on 19th January 2025 and closes on 2nd February. It is important to note that the acceptance rate for this highly competitive program is approximately 9%.