We are excited to advise our members, partners and stakeholders that in response to the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2021, SADC Women in Business decided to expand its geographical reach to cover the rest of the continent of Africa, which culminated to the new name, “African Women In Business (African-WIB)”. African WIB is set to become the unifying voice of women-owned businesses in African countries representing the fastest growing segment of the economy.
African Women In Business, previously known as SADC Women In Business, is a vehicle that is in direct support of the implementation of the SADC Secretariat objectives as stated in article 5 of the SADC Treaty (1992) to achieve development and economic growth, alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the people of Southern Africa and support the socially disadvantaged through Regional Integration, the implementation of the AcFTA within the region, the implementation of sustainable goals 1-5, 8 &10 and African Union Agenda 2063.
With the implementation of the AfCFTA in 2021 SADC Women in Business decided to extend its reach and focus on the rest of Africa changing the name to African Women in Business to ensure alignment with the AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) 2018-2028 adopted at the 31st Summit of Heads of State and Government in 2018 and launched in 2019 in Addis Ababa, which forms part of article 4L of the Constitutive Act of the Union to ensure that women are economically empowered and contribute meaningfully to sustainable economic development. African Women in Business focuses on Pillar 1 of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) outcome, 1.2 Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion.
“We work to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promote economic development within the entrepreneurial community”
Shiphra Chisha | President African Women in Business