Ivanka Trump, daughter to United States President Donald Trump, was buoyed up after American enterprise agency, US African Development Foundation (USADF), announced plans to provide up to Ksh1 billion to support Kenyan businesswomen.
A report published by USADF on its website, on Friday, February 21, stated that the initiative, under the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), is in support of White House-led Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP).
AWE was created in 2019 and launched in 26 countries around the world to support W-GDP, which aims to economically empower 50 million women in the developing world by 2025.
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Ivanka Trump (left) and Donald Trump (right) at the ribbon cutting for the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., in October 2016.
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“W-GDP is the first-ever whole-of-government approach to women’s economic empowerment, developed intentionally to inspire collaboration on best programs and partnerships.
“I am proud to see the State Department and U.S. Africa Development Foundation partner together to expand the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in support of W-GDP. W-GDP is focused on scaling programs that will have maximum impact for women and communities around the world,” ”Ivanka Trump, Donald Trumps advisor stated.
USADF also partners with the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide access to capital, markets, technical assistance, and mentorship.
Through an inclusive learning community and mentoring opportunities, women from around the world will explore “the fundamentals of business”, including creating business plans and raising capital, with the goal of building a better future for their families and communities across Africa and around the world.
In 2020, to help achieve W-GDP’s goals, ECA announced that AWE was expanding globally, doubling the number of countries to reach more women.
Other African countries that will benefit include Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In 2019, women social entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises constituted approximately 66 per cent of USADF’s total investees.
AWE supports Pillar 2 of W-GDP by providing women with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to create sustainable businesses and enterprises.
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From left, Transport CS James Macharia, EAC CS Adan Mohamed, President Uhuru Kenyatta and US president Donald Trump during a meeting in the United States on February 6, 2020.
PSCU