{"loaderData":{"0-11":{"__typename":"IcpDossier","content":null,"excerpt":"

Women’s involvement in business in Africa has improved but continues
\nto face enormous challenges.

The African Women Impact Fund is a women empowerment initiative aimed at growing the number of women-led fund management businesses in Africa, challenging the male-dominated landscape that currently exists on the continent. Bill Lumley talks to Lindeka Dzedze, executive head strategic partnerships, global markets at Standard Bank Group in Johannesburg and finds her fervently committed to the cause: enabling far more women to occupy the fund management space and their roles in business, to the benefit of all.

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Many African countries are now incorporating gender considerations into energy sector policies and regulations, writes Thobeka Mchunu (below) of Women in Green (WiGH).

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Women’s involvement in business in Africa has improved but continues
\nto face enormous challenges.

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The empowerment of women in Nigeria’s corporate world is steadily turning the tide in a male-dominated business environment, says Dianna Games.

\n","featuredImage":{"__typename":"NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"MediaItem","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-scaled.jpg","altText":"","mediaDetails":{"__typename":"MediaDetails","sizes":[{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"medium","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-300x200.jpg","width":"300","height":"200"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"large","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-1024x683.jpg","width":"1024","height":"683"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"thumbnail","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-150x150.jpg","width":"150","height":"150"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"article-img","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-1200x800.jpg","width":"1200","height":"800"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"fbo-center","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-700x467.jpg","width":"700","height":"467"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-two","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-400x267.jpg","width":"400","height":"267"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-three","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-300x200.jpg","width":"300","height":"200"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-seven","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-200x133.jpg","width":"200","height":"133"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"feature-post-block","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-500x333.jpg","width":"500","height":"333"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"feature-post-block-xl","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/000_339m86v-600x400.jpg","width":"600","height":"400"}]},"media":{"__typename":"Media","icpMediaLicense":["AFP"],"icpMediaSource":"JOHN WESSELS"}}},"categories":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"Business","slug":"trade-investment"}]},"author":{"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"User","name":"sshah","slug":"sshah"}},"yoastPrimaryCategory":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Business","slug":"trade-investment"}},"postSettings":{"__typename":"PostSettings","authorsCustom":null,"articleQuote":null},"icpSponsors":{"__typename":"PostToIcpSponsorConnection","nodes":[]}}]}},{"__typename":"DossierSettingsDossierFeatures","dossierFeaturePost":{"__typename":"AcfContentNodeConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Post","id":"cG9zdDozNzQ3OA==","title":"How Uganda Development Bank is advancing women’s empowerment ","slug":"how-uganda-development-bank-is-advancing-womens-empowerment","date":"2024-02-27T10:30:25","excerpt":"

Women in Uganda face more barriers than men in accessing finance. We spoke with Patricia Ojangole, of Uganda Development Bank about how it aims to be a powerful platform to empower women.

\n","featuredImage":{"__typename":"NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"MediaItem","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-scaled.jpg","altText":"","mediaDetails":{"__typename":"MediaDetails","sizes":[{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"medium","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-300x157.jpg","width":"300","height":"157"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"large","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-1024x536.jpg","width":"1024","height":"536"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"thumbnail","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-150x150.jpg","width":"150","height":"150"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"article-img","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-1200x628.jpg","width":"1200","height":"628"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"fbo-center","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-700x367.jpg","width":"700","height":"367"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-two","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-400x209.jpg","width":"400","height":"209"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-three","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-300x157.jpg","width":"300","height":"157"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-seven","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-200x105.jpg","width":"200","height":"105"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"feature-post-block","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-500x262.jpg","width":"500","height":"262"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"feature-post-block-xl","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/md-udb_2-600x314.jpg","width":"600","height":"314"}]},"media":{"__typename":"Media","icpMediaLicense":null,"icpMediaSource":null}}},"categories":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"Long Reads","slug":"long-reads"},{"__typename":"Category","name":"Partner Content","slug":"partner-content"}]},"author":{"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"User","name":"sshah","slug":"sshah"}},"yoastPrimaryCategory":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Partner Content","slug":"partner-content"}},"postSettings":{"__typename":"PostSettings","authorsCustom":null,"articleQuote":null},"icpSponsors":{"__typename":"PostToIcpSponsorConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"IcpSponsor","id":"dGVybTo0NjI2","name":"UDB","slug":"udb","databaseId":4626}]}}]}},{"__typename":"DossierSettingsDossierFeatures","dossierFeaturePost":{"__typename":"AcfContentNodeConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Post","id":"cG9zdDozNzQyNA==","title":"To shape Africa’s future, ramp up investments in youth education and leadership","slug":"to-shape-africas-future-ramp-up-investments-in-youth","date":"2024-01-25T04:00:00","excerpt":"

Investing in the leadership potential of young Africans, especially women and girls, is a step towards establishing Africa as a formidable and influential force on the global stage, says former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

\n","featuredImage":null,"categories":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"Politics","slug":"politics"}]},"author":{"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"User","name":"sshah","slug":"sshah"}},"yoastPrimaryCategory":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Politics","slug":"politics"}},"postSettings":{"__typename":"PostSettings","authorsCustom":[{"__typename":"PostSettingsAuthorsCustom","author":null}],"articleQuote":null},"icpSponsors":{"__typename":"PostToIcpSponsorConnection","nodes":[]}}]}},{"__typename":"DossierSettingsDossierFeatures","dossierFeaturePost":{"__typename":"AcfContentNodeConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Post","id":"cG9zdDozNzQ3Ng==","title":"‘Every organisation must be deliberate about creating an environment that enables female employees to put their best foot forward’","slug":"every-organisation-must-be-deliberate-about-creating-an-environment-that-enables-female-employees-to-put-their-best-foot-forward","date":"2024-02-27T10:22:53","excerpt":"

Nana Araba Abban is group executive, consumer banking at Ecobank and co-chair of the Bank’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. How has being a woman in such a position been for her, and what can be done to take advantage of diversity?

\n","featuredImage":{"__typename":"NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"MediaItem","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-scaled.jpg","altText":"","mediaDetails":{"__typename":"MediaDetails","sizes":[{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"medium","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-292x300.jpg","width":"292","height":"300"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"large","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-996x1024.jpg","width":"996","height":"1024"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"thumbnail","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-150x150.jpg","width":"150","height":"150"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"article-img","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-1200x1234.jpg","width":"1200","height":"1234"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"fbo-center","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-700x720.jpg","width":"700","height":"720"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-two","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-400x411.jpg","width":"400","height":"411"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-three","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-300x309.jpg","width":"300","height":"309"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"preview-post-seven","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-200x206.jpg","width":"200","height":"206"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"feature-post-block","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-500x514.jpg","width":"500","height":"514"},{"__typename":"MediaSize","name":"feature-post-block-xl","sourceUrl":"https://african.business/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/513a1885-600x617.jpg","width":"600","height":"617"}]},"media":{"__typename":"Media","icpMediaLicense":null,"icpMediaSource":null}}},"categories":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Category","name":"Partner Content","slug":"partner-content"}]},"author":{"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"User","name":"sshah","slug":"sshah"}},"yoastPrimaryCategory":{"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnectionEdge","node":{"__typename":"Category","name":"Partner Content","slug":"partner-content"}},"postSettings":{"__typename":"PostSettings","authorsCustom":[{"__typename":"PostSettingsAuthorsCustom","author":{"__typename":"AcfContentNodeConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Author","id":"cG9zdDozMjQxMw==","title":"Bill Lumley","slug":"bill-lumley","featuredImage":null}]}}],"articleQuote":null},"icpSponsors":{"__typename":"PostToIcpSponsorConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"IcpSponsor","id":"dGVybTo0MTky","name":"Ecobank","slug":"ecobank","databaseId":4192}]}}]}},{"__typename":"DossierSettingsDossierFeatures","dossierFeaturePost":{"__typename":"AcfContentNodeConnection","nodes":[{"__typename":"Post","id":"cG9zdDozNzM1OA==","title":"A new Africa: The journey to effective women’s leadership","slug":"a-new-africa-the-journey-to-effective-womens-leadership","date":"2023-12-11T10:51:59","excerpt":"

African women face unique challenges when it comes to training, education, and career development. Award-winning businesswoman Michelle Austin looks at how they can turn these challenges into opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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Following its success in unlocking millions of dollars in loans to SMEs in the continent, the African Guarantee Fund was selected to implement the roll-out of the AFAWA Guarantee for Growth programme, the AFAWA financial risk-sharing mechanism. The program currently provides partial financial guarantees and capacity development assistance to 80 partner financial institutions, to increase disbursements to women-led businesses.

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Almost all African banking groups say that digital transformation is a top priority. We asked executives what this means for them.

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Women in Business

More sustainable investments needed to boost women-led businesses in Africa

The energy sector in Africa is moving in the right direction towards greater gender inclusivity

Women in African business take two steps forward, one step back

The highs and lows in the empowerment of women in Nigerian business

How Uganda Development Bank is advancing women’s empowerment

To shape Africa’s future, ramp up investments in youth education and leadership

Featured Articles

More sustainable investments needed to boost women-led businesses in Africa

The energy sector in Africa is moving in the right direction towards greater gender inclusivity

Women in African business take two steps forward, one step back

The highs and lows in the empowerment of women in Nigerian business

How Uganda Development Bank is advancing women’s empowerment

To shape Africa’s future, ramp up investments in youth education and leadership

‘Every organisation must be deliberate about creating an environment that enables female employees to put their best foot forward’

A new Africa: The journey to effective women’s leadership

AFAWA fast-tracks lending to women-led businesses

Africa’s banking groups embrace disruption and innovation in digital services