UN Women South Africa showcases EntreprenHER programme at the continental forum on women's economic empowerment

The two-day forum, convened under the urgent theme "Breaking the Barriers: Now More Than Ever," brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and development partners from across Africa to address the mounting backlash against gender equality and chart pathways toward women's economic empowerment.

The opening panel addressed the sobering reality captured in the UN Gender Snapshot 2024: at current rates, gender parity in politics will not be realized before 2063, and eradicating poverty for all women and girls could take another 137 years. Panelists explored innovative strategies to accelerate progress, mobilize resources, and foster collaboration across governments, civil society, and the private sector.

Agness Phiri, EntreprenHER Programme Manager at UN Women South Africa, represented the organization on this panel themed "Accelerating Action for Gender Equality: Strengthening Commitment and Countering the Backlash," delivered in partnership with the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF). Phiri shared best practices and lessons from the EntreprenHER programme, highlighting how targeted support for women entrepreneurs can translate policy commitments into tangible economic outcomes.

"The challenge for women entrepreneurs is often not starting a business but scaling it sustainably. Our work through EntreprenHER focuses on dismantling systemic barriers by moving women beyond micro-finance to growth capital, facilitating intentional access to markets through supply chain integration and digital transformation, and building capacity for scaling, not just starting. Sustainability comes from building an entire ecosystem, not just providing one-off training," explained Agness Phiri, EntreprenHER Programme Manager at UN Women South Africa. 

UN Women South Africa’s Agness Phiri shared EntreprenHER’s best practices at one of the high-level panels at AWIEF 2025, addressing strategies to accelerate gender equality and counter the global backlash against women's rights. Photos courtesy of AWIEF

UN Women's participation extended beyond the conference room. Thanks to support from De Beers Group, which funds the EntreprenHER programme, a few women entrepreneurs showcased their products at the AWIEF exhibition floor, demonstrating the programme's impact in transforming business ideas into market-ready enterprises. The exhibitors represented diverse sectors within the programme's focus areas, providing tangible examples of how targeted entrepreneurship support creates sustainable livelihoods and economic independence for women.

The forum attracted over 1,000 participants, including women entrepreneurs and business leaders, policymakers, corporate representatives, international development partners, UN agencies, investors, and media from across the continent. Alongside high-level panels and keynote addresses, AWIEF 2025 featured workshops, masterclasses, pitch competitions, and networking spaces designed to facilitate partnerships and collaborative problem-solving.

The participation of UN Women South Africa and EntreprenHER beneficiaries underscored the critical connection between policy advocacy and practical implementation. 

The AWIEF Forum delivered tangible market access for women EntreprenHERs, directly advancing one of the programme's objectives of connecting women entrepreneurs to economic opportunities. One of the participants secured a significant breakthrough with a Zimbabwean buyer who placed an order for 1,320 units across four product lines following the exhibition - demonstrating the power of strategic networking platforms in expanding cross-border trade. 

Collectively, the women entrepreneurs generated USD 890.20 in sales over two days, averaging USD 222.55 per entrepreneur (approximately ZAR 3,672.08 per person). These results underscore how creating deliberate access to markets transforms women's entrepreneurial ventures from potential into measurable economic impact, validating the EntreprenHER programme's approach to removing barriers that have historically excluded women from lucrative business networks.

By bringing programme managers and entrepreneurs together on the same platform, UN Women demonstrated how development programmes can bridge the gap between global commitments to gender equality and the lived realities of women building businesses across Southern Africa.

The forum concluded with the AWIEF Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, celebrating outstanding achievements of African women entrepreneurs across eight categories, from technology and agriculture to social entrepreneurship and lifetime achievement.