News and Updates

In a groundbreaking showcase of collaborative effort and innovation, Agri Jobs for Youth in partnership with WIDU.africa joined forces in steering a Green Business Innovations for Western Kenya hackathon, implemented by the Association of Startup and SME Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK), held on the 14th and 15th of August in Kisumu, Kenya. This hackathon was designed to harness the power of Human-Centered Design to tackle pressing challenges and elevate budding entrepreneurs in the green agribusiness sector. Seven Kenyan WIDU beneficiaries were selected to join the six-week incubation training.

On the 10th of August 2023, WIDU Kenya hosted a Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop for WIDU Business Coaches. The aim of this refresher training was to deepen cross-organisational collaboration. Highlight was a joint session on integrity in business and entrepreneurship facilitated by Transparency International and GIZ Good Governance.

The WIDU Partner Quarterly Update showcases the highlights from April to June 2023 and provides an overview of upcoming activities. The update is provided on a quarterly basis and we welcome contributions from our partners on any information relevant to the WIDU Kenya fraternity.

The WIDU Award Ghana was held for the first-time on 29th June 2023. Awards were presented in five distinct categories: Agri-Business Award, Young Entrepreneur Award, Sustainability Award, Tech Award and Female Entrepreneurship Award.

From the 14th to the 16th of June, WIDU.africa participated in the THREE DAY 2023 Global Forum on Remittances, Investment, and Development Summit. Wolfram Zunzer, program head of the project by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH participated in a panel discussion on pivotal role of diaspora remittances in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kenya's capital Nairobi on 5 May 2023. WIDU entrepreneurs Florence Mogere and Kevin Sanya had the opportunity to participate in an event that was organized by the German embassy in Nairobi. They were two of only a few people from the audience who had opportunity to directly talk to Mr Scholz. We have met them for an interview

During his recent visit to Ethiopia and Kenya, Olaf Scholz met with young entrepreneurs at an event organized by the German Embassy in Nairobi. The audience also included entrepreneurs supported by the WIDU.africa project of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, who were given the opportunity to ask the German Chancellor their questions directly.

WIDU Kenya launches a second Local Call: #FoodSecurity to support micro, small and medium enterprises contributing to a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient recovery of #agriculture and #foodsystems.

WIDU and Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Ethiopia kick-off partnership

On 30 January, Talanta Junior School in Port Victoria, Kenya, opened its doors. The project, which we supported, celebrated the occasion with an opening event.

Due to increasing demand, WIDU from now on will extend its score-based selection of projects to Kenya.

After three successful years, the Corona Business Grant is closed at the end of January 2023, due to changing circumstances for African entrepreneurs.

On 7 December 2022, we participated in the first edition of the German-Cameroonian Cooperation Day in Yaoundé. At our stand visitors learnt about the project.

The award ceremony was held for the first-time on 8 December 2022. Awards were presented in six distinct categories and the winners received cash prizes.

Award Kenya | Together with the Kenya Diaspora Alliance, we will award outstanding Kenyan entrepreneurs and coaches, on 08.12.2022 at 6pm (EAT) in Nairobi.

There are two new procedures on the platform to increase account security: users need to renew their password every three months and answer a security question.

Due to increasing demand, we will extend the score-based selection of projects to Togo and Ghana. The project evaluation is based on a neutral scoring system.

WIDU.africa to open application for African diaspora from the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden on 1 March 2022

We will ask entrepreneurs from Ghana and Cameroon to participate in our impact evaluation study. They will receive phone credit for each completed questionnaire

New Cameroonian projects will be able to apply again from the 1st of August. Furthermore, we have started to moderate already registered projects from Cameroon.

Salaries, running costs, cash: WIDU is adjusting criteria for which expenses and purchases are and are not eligible for WIDU project funding.

WIDU.africa for Cameroon is currently working at full capacity and therefore no applications can be submitted right now.