About this opportunity
Applications are now open for the 2026 AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme, a fully funded 12-month enterprise and supplier development programme supporting established, black women-owned, product-based businesses in South Africa. The programme, delivered through a partnership between AWIEF and Nedbank, is designed to help 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. What Selected Businesses Will Receive Participants will have access to: Practical business growth training Individual business diagnostics and development plans Business coaching and technical mentoring Supplier and retail-readiness support Financial and investment-readiness support Export development support Market-access and buyer linkages Opportunities to access corporate, retail, public-sector and international markets
Eligibility
To apply, businesses must: Be at least 51% owned by black women . Qualify as an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) or Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) .
Be legally registered and operating in South Africa. Be post-revenue, currently trading and serving paying customers.
Be a product-based business involved in producing, manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging, formulating or distributing physical products. Operate in one of the programme’s priority sectors.
Be seeking to expand market access nationally, regionally, across Africa or internationally. Nominate a woman owner who can commit to the full 12-month programme.
Priority Sectors The programme is open to product-based businesses operating in: 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 Circular Economy
Programme Timeline
12 August 2026: Applications Open 7 September 2026: Applications Close September – October 2026: Screening and Selection Application screening and shortlisting Due diligence and structured interviews Selection of 25 participating businesses 10–11 November 2026: Official Launch and Bootcamp Programme launch at the AWIEF2026 Conference & Exhibition in Cape Town Two-day in-person bootcamp November 2026 – October 2027: Programme Implementation Training Coaching Mentorship Business diagnostics Market-access support Why Apply? The programme offers established women-owned businesses an opportunity to strengthen their business systems, become more investment and supplier-ready, access new markets and build the capacity needed to scale beyond South Africa.
Application timeline
7 September 2026
Application steps
Interested and eligible businesses can submit their applications through the official programme page: Apply for the AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme
Who can apply
- Eligibility Requirements To apply, businesses must: Be at least 51% owned by black women
Sources and verification
Important disclaimer
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