How to Access AfDB’s $750,000 Women’s Business Support Programme in Nigeria
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has committed $750,000 in grants to support women-led businesses in Nigeria through a three-year initiative designed to improve access to finance, strengthen entrepreneurship and create jobs.
The funding will be channelled through three organisations: the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), the Pan African Women Empowerment Network (PAWEN) and ImpactHER Foundation. Each organisation will receive $250,000 to implement programmes supporting female entrepreneurs.
The initiative is being delivered under the second cohort of AfDB’s Women Entrepreneurship Enablers Project and is financed through the bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme.
What the Programme Offers
The three-year initiative will provide women entrepreneurs with business development services and practical support to help them build stronger, more sustainable enterprises.
Planned interventions include:
- Business development training: Helping entrepreneurs improve business operations and management.
- Financial literacy: Strengthening financial planning, record-keeping and money management.
- Mentorship: Providing guidance to help women entrepreneurs navigate business challenges and identify growth opportunities.
- Business formalisation: Supporting enterprises to strengthen their business structures and meet relevant requirements.
- Access to markets and finance: Helping businesses connect with potential customers, markets and financing opportunities.
The programme seeks to address barriers that prevent women-owned businesses from accessing funding, expanding operations and creating employment.
Three Organisations to Deliver the Support
The $750,000 commitment will be divided equally among the three implementing organisations.
Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) will receive $250,000 to support 610 women-led businesses in Lagos State. The intervention aims to help participating businesses improve their performance, increase revenue and prepare for expansion.
Pan African Women Empowerment Network (PAWEN) will receive $250,000 to deliver support for women entrepreneurs through its business empowerment initiatives.
ImpactHER Foundation will also receive $250,000 to implement interventions aimed at strengthening women-led businesses and expanding their access to business development opportunities.
The three partnerships form part of AfDB’s wider efforts to improve the economic participation of women and strengthen the contribution of female entrepreneurs to job creation and economic growth.
Who Can Benefit?
The initiative is intended for women who own or lead businesses in Nigeria, with specific beneficiary groups determined by each implementing organisation.
Women entrepreneurs seeking to improve their business management, financial readiness, access to markets and capacity to grow should monitor announcements from LSETF, PAWEN and ImpactHER for information about available support and eligibility conditions.
For Lagos-based businesses, the LSETF component is expected to reach 610 women-led enterprises. However, the funding announcement does not establish that every interested business will automatically receive a grant or direct cash payment.
The $250,000 allocations are grants to the implementing organisations to deliver business support, rather than a stated individual grant award of $250,000 to entrepreneurs.
How to Apply
Women entrepreneurs interested in benefiting from the initiative should contact the implementing organisations and monitor their official channels for application announcements, eligibility requirements and selection procedures.
- Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF): Visit the <Link url=”https://lsetf.ng/” title=”official LSETF website”/> for updates on support for women-led businesses in Lagos.
- Pan African Women Empowerment Network (PAWEN): Follow the organisation’s official announcements for information about its programme.
- ImpactHER Foundation: Visit the <Link url=”https://impacther.org/” title=”official ImpactHER website”/> for updates on business support opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Important: As of October 18, 2026, the published funding announcement does not provide a single application portal or confirmed deadline for entrepreneurs. Applicants should verify the opening of beneficiary applications directly with the relevant organisation before submitting personal or business information.
Why the Initiative Matters
The investment builds on AfDB’s broader efforts to address financing barriers faced by women-owned businesses across Africa. Its AFAWA initiative combines access to finance with support intended to strengthen business capacity and improve the long-term sustainability of women-led enterprises.
Through the $750,000 commitment, AfDB and its Nigerian partners aim to help more women entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, access new markets, improve their financial management and create employment opportunities.
