2016 African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program

On Wednesday, September 7th, the 2016 African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) opened in Chicago, Illinois. 36 international visitors representing 31 countries from across Africa converged on Chicago to open their program. They will then depart on four sector specific city splits (Two focused on Agriculture, one on Fashion, and one on Crafts/Home Goods) and visit 8 distinct U.S. cities before reconvening in Washington, DC for the 2016 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum. Meridian is proud to work with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program to implement this program.

The African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) was launched in conjunction with the 2010 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). On an annual basis, U.S. missions in sub-Saharan Africa nominate leading women entrepreneurs from over 30 countries to participate in this unique project. The women address topics such as U.S. business practices and African access to U.S. markets; integrating African women into the global economy; and funding access for commercial expansion in Africa. Leading actors in economic development and social advocacy in their home communities, the program’s alumnae have created thousands of jobs and established more than 20 women’s business associations across the Sub-Saharan region.

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