US Embassy Awards K4.5 Million To 9 Women Entrepreneurs

The United States Embassy to Zambia yesterday awarded funding totalling K4.5 million to nine women entrepreneurs as part of a campaign to support female economic empowerment. 

The funding was made available in collaboration with the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Access Center (WEAC). 

US Chargé d’Affaires David Young announced yesterday that, following a competitive review of their business plans, each entrepreneur was being awarded K500,000. 

Mr Young said the funding marked the first phase in the US government’s Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) - a programme designed to equip women with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to start and grow their own businesses. 

Since the launch of AWE in 2019, 87 women in Lusaka have successfully completed their training, Mr Young said.

The deputy ambassador added that the terrible toll taken by the Covid-19 pandemic on world economies, including Zambia, meant that support for entrepreneurs in the private sector was more important than ever. 

Zambia is one of 50 countries worldwide participating in the AWE programme, which was launched globally by the US State Department in March 2019.