The 50 Million African Women Speak (50MAWSP) platform https://www.womenconnect.org/, a digital initiative dedicated to supporting the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Africa, is set to receive a significant boost with the validation of new features aimed at enhancing its effectiveness.
An essential step towards this goal was the recent three-day workshop held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from May 15 to 17, 2024. Organized by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (CCDG), the workshop brought together experts from ECOWAS, COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), EAC (East African Community), women users of the 50MAWSP platform, and partners such as Spanish Cooperation, the African Development Bank (AfDB), USAID West Africa, and UN Women West and Central Africa.
Key Objectives and Outcomes:
The workshop aimed to validate proposed new features for the 50MAWSP platform, focusing on:
- Enhancing the user interface and user experience
- Improving platform content and promotion
- Strengthening networking functionalities
- Bolstering platform analytics capabilities
Additionally, the workshop participants reviewed and validated the terms of reference for recruiting a firm to evaluate the platform’s first phase and identify strategies for its self-sustainability in the project’s second phase.
A Collaborative Effort for Women’s Empowerment:
The successful conclusion of the workshop marked a significant milestone in the collective effort to empower African women entrepreneurs. The three partner RECs implementing the 50MAWSP project signed an Outcome Document summarizing the agreed-upon next steps for project implementation.
50MAWSP: A Platform for Growth and Success
Launched in November 2019 and covering data collection in 38 African countries, the 50MAWSP digital platform is dedicated to supporting the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs across the continent. Its primary objective is to address the need for financial and non-financial information, facilitating women’s growth and success in business.
Moving Forward with Renewed Commitment:
The workshop’s positive outcomes and the participants’ expressed satisfaction reflect the unwavering commitment to empowering African women entrepreneurs. The closing ceremony featured remarks from the USAID representative, reaffirming the institution’s ongoing support for women’s development throughout Africa.
The voices of UN Women, the EAC’s Gender Programme Officer, COMESA’s Director of Gender and Social Affairs, and the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire echoed this commitment before the workshop’s closure by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre on behalf of Commissioner Fatou Sow Sarr.
The 50MAWSP platform, with its enhanced features and the unwavering support of its partners, is poised to play an even more significant role in empowering African women entrepreneurs, driving economic growth, and fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.