UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will will host its fourth Masterclass for women digital entrepreneurs from Francophone Africa, under the theme: “Réussite et Transformation: Soutenir les femmes entrepreneurs du digital en Afrique francophone”, from 10-13 March 2026, in Cotonou, Benin.
Bridging the Digital Divide for Women Entrepreneurs
The digital economy is expanding rapidly across Africa, opening new pathways for innovation, inclusion, and entrepreneurship. Yet women entrepreneurs in the region continue to face barriers to digitalization, finance, visibility, and policy engagement. Structural and societal challenges often limit the full potential of women-led digital businesses.
To address these gaps, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is organizing a Masterclass for women digital entrepreneurs from Francophone Africa, gathering 25 women founders from across the region for four days of learning, exchange, and inspiration.
What to Expect
This high-impact Masterclass will offer participants the opportunity to:
• Sharpen business skills through practical training sessions led by regional experts
• Exchange experiences with fellow women entrepreneurs tackling similar challenges
• Expand networks with digital ecosystem actors and investors
• Engage in dialogue with government representatives to shape more inclusive digital policies
Partners
This Masterclass is hosted by UNCTAD in collaboration with Dr. Vèna Arielle Ahouansou, founder of Kea Medicals (Benin), and eTrade for Women Advocate for Francophone Africa, and is organized in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Who Can Apply?
The Masterclass is open to women digital entrepreneurs from the following countries and territories in Francophone Africa:
• Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Togo.
To be eligible, applicants must:
• Be a woman founder or co-founder of a digital business (e.g. in e-commerce, fintech, agritech, edtech, healthtech, digital logistics, etc.)
• Have at least 3 years of operational activity
• Demonstrate a positive social or economic impact in their community through digital innovation, women’s empowerment, or sustainability
How to Apply?
Applications are open until 11 January 2026.
Interested candidates must complete the application form available at: Masterclass.
Learn more
Additional information will be available at: Réussite et Transformation : Soutenir les femmes entrepreneurs du digital en Afrique francophone | eTrade for all
Applications are open
Launched by the United Nations in 2019, the eTrade for Women initiative—powered by UNCTAD and the eTrade for all partnership—aims to empower women entrepreneurs in developing countries by harnessing the transformative power of digital technologies to drive inclusive growth and innovation.
