Applications are now open for the 2026 AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme. A fully funded 12-month enterprise and supplier development program for established, black women-owned, product-based businesses in South Africa built to grow your capacity, your buyers and your markets.
The Nedbank–AWIEF Women Enterprise Growth and Export Program is a 12-month enterprise and supplier development program for established black women-owned, product-based businesses in South Africa. It is designed to help participating businesses strengthen their operations, improve their financial and market readiness, and access larger corporate, retail, public-sector, regional and international opportunities.
It forms part of a three-year partnership between Nedbank and AWIEF that will support 75 black women-owned SMMEs, with 25 businesses selected for each annual cohort. Selected businesses receive practical business growth training, an individual business diagnostic and development plan, coaching, technical mentoring, supplier and retail-readiness support, financial and investment-readiness support, export development and market-access linkages
Requirements
- ✓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 product-based — producing, manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging, formulating or distributing physical products
- ✓Operate in one of the priority sectors listed below
- ✓Be looking to expand market access nationally, regionally, intra-Africa and internationally
- ✓Nominate a woman owner who can commit to the full 12-month program
Priority Areas
The program is open to product-based businesses in the following eleven sectors.
- Agriculture & Agro-processing
- Manufacturing
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Cleaning & Hygiene
- Textile, Apparel & Accessories
- Beauty, Wellness & Personal Care
- Tourism & Hospitality
- Design & Craft
- Building & Construction
- Green Economy & Renewable Energy
- Circular Economy
Application Timeline:
- 12 August 2026: Applications Open
- 7 September 2026: Applications Close
Phase I · September – October 2026
Screening & Selection
- Application screening and shortlisting
- Due diligence and structured interviews
- Final selection of 25 participating businesses
Phase II · 10–11 November 2026
Official Launch & Bootcamp
- Program launch at the AWIEF2026 Conference & Exhibition, CTICC, Cape Town
- In-person two-day bootcamp
Phase III · November 2026 – October 2027
Program Implementation
- Training, coaching, mentoring, diagnostics and market-access support
Click here for more information.