Applications have opened for the 2026 AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme, a fully funded 12-month enterprise and supplier development initiative for established, black women-owned, product-based businesses in South Africa.

The programme is being delivered through a partnership between AWIEF and Nedbank, with a focus on helping participating businesses strengthen their operations, improve financial and market readiness, secure new buyers and expand into national, regional and international markets.

The partnership aims to support 75 black women-owned SMMEs, with 25 businesses selected for each annual cohort.

Selected participants will receive practical business growth training alongside individual business diagnostics and development plans. The programme will also provide business coaching and technical mentoring, supplier and retail-readiness support, financial and investment-readiness assistance and export development support.

Participants will further have access to market opportunities and buyer linkages, including opportunities to connect with corporate, retail, public-sector and international markets.

To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned by black women and meet the requirements for an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) or Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE).

Applicants must also be legally registered and operating in South Africa. Businesses must be post-revenue, currently trading and serving paying customers.

The programme is specifically designed for product-based businesses involved in producing, manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging, formulating or distributing physical products.

Eligible businesses must operate within one of the programme’s priority sectors and be seeking to expand their market access nationally, regionally, across Africa or internationally.

Each applicant must also nominate a woman owner who is able to commit to the complete 12-month programme.

The priority sectors covered by the programme are Agriculture and Agro-processing; Manufacturing; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Cleaning and Hygiene; Textile, Apparel and Accessories; Beauty, Wellness and Personal Care; Tourism and Hospitality; Design and Craft; Building and Construction; Green Economy and Renewable Energy; and Circular Economy.

Applications opened on 12 August 2026 and will close on 7 September 2026.

The screening and selection stage will take place between September and October 2026. This phase will include application screening and shortlisting, due diligence and structured interviews, followed by the selection of 25 participating businesses.

The official launch and bootcamp are scheduled for 10–11 November 2026. The programme will be launched at the AWIEF2026 Conference & Exhibition in Cape Town and will include a two-day in-person bootcamp.

Programme implementation will run from November 2026 to October 2027, covering training, coaching, mentorship, business diagnostics and market-access support.

For established women-owned businesses, the programme offers an opportunity to strengthen internal business systems, improve investment and supplier readiness, access new markets and develop the capacity required to expand beyond South Africa.

The application deadline is 7 September 2026.

Interested and eligible businesses can submit applications through the official programme page.

Apply: AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme

Source: MSME Africa Online