By 
As part of our strategic roadmap to build a pipeline of 1 million women- and youth-led SMEs over the next 10 years, the 1 Million AfCFTA Impact Hub is proud to host the Women in Digital Business (WiDB) Training of Entrepreneurs (ToE) Programme — an initiative adapted to accelerate digital readiness and competitiveness for inclusive trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This programme is more than a training — it’s a movement to empower African women entrepreneurs to digitize, digitalize, and transform their enterprises for success in the emerging AfCFTA digital marketplace.
Unlocking the AfCFTA Digital Market Landscape
Africa’s digital economy is on a historic rise. With over 570 million internet users, mobile penetration surpassing 80%, and a digital economy projected to exceed $180 billion by 2025, the AfCFTA presents the largest single market opportunity for digitally enabled businesses in the world.
Through e-commerce, fintech, digital logistics, and online marketplaces, Africa’s entrepreneurs now have unprecedented access to cross-border customers, suppliers, and investors — powered by digital tools and platforms.
Yet, despite this massive opportunity, many women-led businesses remain on the margins of the digital economy.
The Challenge
Across Africa, millions of women entrepreneurs face structural and operational barriers that limit their participation in digital trade. These include:
- Limited online visibility and weak digital discoverability
- Reliance on manual, paper-based processes
- Lack of access to digital marketing, CRM, and analytics tools
- Fragmented or inconsistent customer communication
- Low digital confidence and limited mentorship
- Missed opportunities for regional and global trade participation
These challenges not only affect individual businesses — they slow down Africa’s inclusive growth and competitiveness under AfCFTA.
The WiDB Solution
The Women in Digital Business (WiDB) ToE Programme is a structured entrepreneurial innovation initiative by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) and fully funded by Microsoft Philanthropies, the programme is designed takes participants on a step-by-step digital transformation journey through a self-paced online courseware hosted on a dedicated learning management system and expert mentorship, and technical guidance.
The overarching goal is to help women-led ventures adopt and adapt their processes, operational structures, and models to thrive in Africa’s digital economy.
Foundations Programme on Digital Skills
Participants will develop the foundational skills essential for digital entrepreneurship, including:
Why Digitalize – Understand the importance of digital transformation for business survival and competitiveness. Building an Online Presence – Learn strategies to establish and manage visibility through social media, websites, or messaging platforms. Selling Online – Master the use of e-commerce platforms and digital marketing tools to reach wider audiences. Adapting Business Processes – Learn how to integrate digital tools for order management, payment processing, and delivery systems.
By the end of this phase, participants will create a personalized Digitalization Action Plan tailored to their business needs and growth goals.
Programme Objectives
- Digital Empowerment – Build digital skills for visibility, communication, and sales.
- Market Integration – Connect women-led SMEs to AfCFTA’s expanding digital marketplace.
- Enterprise Competitiveness – Transition from manual to data-driven, scalable business models.
- Innovation & Sustainability – Encourage creative, tech-enabled, and sustainable business practices.
- Inclusive Growth – Bridge the digital gender divide and unlock women’s potential in Africa’s trade future.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants will:
- Establish a verified online presence on Google, social media, and marketplaces.
- Run digital ads and apply SEO strategies to boost visibility and reach.
- Integrate digital payment systems and CRM tools for improved efficiency.
- Develop a Digital Transformation Roadmap for their enterprise.
- Achieve measurable growth in sales, visibility, and operational efficiency.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, applicants must meet the following criteria:
a. Be a woman aged 18–60 years (born between December 10, 1964, and December 10, 2006).
b. Be African and a resident of one of Africa’s 55 countries.
c. Have a valid email and WhatsApp account.
d. Be computer literate and own a personal computer or smartphone with regular access to the internet and power supply.
e. Have a registered business.
f. Offer products or services currently available on the market, with evidence of traction.
g. Be fluent in English.
Desired Behaviour
- Digital Problem-Solving: Using technology to improve efficiency and customer experience.
- Opportunity Recognition: Spotting digital gaps and turning them into business value.
- Strategic Thinking: Aligning digital tools with business growth goals.
- Tech Mobilization: Leveraging digital resources for scalable solutions.
- Execution & Adaptation: Implementing, testing, and refining digital strategies for impact.
Training Curriculum
1. Women in Digital Business (WiDB) Training of Enterprenuers (ToE)
Business Resource Library
- Block 1: Welcome to Women in Digital Business
- Block 2: Building an Online Presence
- Block 3: Selling Online
- Block 4: Adapting Other Business Processes
Training Structure (Maximum of 3 Weeks)
- Phase 1 (Week 1): Complete the Women in Digital Business course.
- Week 2: Create a work plan.
- Week 3: Refine the plan with facilitator. (Certification by ILO)
- Phase 2 (6 Weeks): Top participants move on to SIYB courses (optional).
Programme Delivery
- Mode: Flipped classroom with self-paced online content and facilitated walkthrough sessions (in-person or online).
- Platform: Access low-bandwidth, user-friendly resources on our technical partner platform.
- Community: Join a vibrant network of entrepreneurs for peer support, expert mentoring, and post-program perks from across Africa.
Important Note
The selection process will involve:
- Application and Needs Assessment submitted via this Google Form
- After submission, applications will be reviewed on a rolling bases.
- Successful applicants will be contacted and invited to a virtual interview before proceeding to registration on the main learning portal.
- Others will be on waitlist for subsequent cohort.
Ready to begin your digital transformation journey?
Courtesy: Evans Edebor
