Local Call: #WomenCall

WIDU.africa recognizes the structural barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in many countries. Despite their potential, women are often excluded from business opportunities and encounter challenges in accessing finance and support networks. In response to this, WIDU has launched a targeted initiative to address these disparities and create opportunities for women-owned businesses in Ethiopia and Tunisia
The #WomenCall is a new instrument that aims to support and empower women entrepreneurs in boosting their businesses and creating jobs.

By focusing on women-owned businesses, WIDU aims to address the gender gap in entrepreneurship and foster an inclusive ecosystem where women can thrive.

Who is eligible to apply in Ethiopia?
• Applicant must be female
• Applicant must be 18 y/o or older
• Applicant must be an Ethiopian national
• Applicant must be the business owner
• The business owner and manager must both be female
• The business must have started its operations for at least 1 year. Business license is not required.
• The business must be a micro, small or medium-sized enterprises with not more than 20 employees.
• The business must aim at job creation, particularly jobs for women
• If you have already participated in the WIDU #FoodCall, your project must be fully closed already.

Who is eligible to apply in Tunisia?
• Applicant must be female
• Applicant must be 18 y/o or older
• Applicant must be a Tunisian national
• Applicant must be the business owner
• The business owner and manager must be female
• The business must have started its operations for at least 1 year and is formalized or is in the process of being formalized (i.e. the entrepreneur must prove that she is committed to being formalized by providing the formalization documents to the coach (application for a patent, tax number, etc.).
• The business must be a micro, small or medium-sized enterprises with not more than 20 employees.
• The business must aim at job creation, particularly jobs for women.

There are multiple selection criteria that will be taken into consideration:
•    Potential for job creation (Can this business create jobs? For whom can this business create jobs?)
•    Overall coherence of the application (How coherent is the application when it comes to the business description in the relation to the investment plan and its objective? How good is the overall quality of the application?)
•    Degree of innovation (Is it a new or creative type of business? Is it something that does not yet exist very often in the country?)
•    Gender transformative impact (Does the business have a gender transformative impact? Does it help overcoming harmful gender and social norms?) 
•    Sustainability (What are the positive and negative impacts of the business - ecological impact, social impact and economic impact?)
•    Vulnerability (Is the business in an underserved area/ region or from a rural area? Does the applicant have limited other opportunities for access to finance, access to professional coaching and to business networks?)

Important: In general, special consideration will be given to applicants that operate in industries, in which women are underrepresented and to applicants from underserved backgrounds and contexts (e.g. rural areas).

Selected entrepreneurs will receive three 1-on-1 business coaching sessions as well as a financial contribution. The total amount a #WomenCall participant receives is calculated by multiplying your own investment by 2.5

In Ethiopia, the minimum and maximum amounts are:
Example 1 (minimum amounts):
For your investment of 14.500 ETB, you will receive 36,250 ETB as a grant.

Example 2 (maximum amounts):
For your investment of 58.000 ETB, you will receive 145.000 ETB as a grant.

In Tunisia, the minimum and maximum amounts are:
Example 1 (minimum amounts):
For your investment of 1.670 TND, you will receive 4.180 TND as a grant.

Example 2 (maximum amounts):
For your investment of 6.690 TND, you will receive 145.000 TND as a grant.

• The #WomenCall is exclusively for female entrepreneurs with a business located in Ethiopia or Tunisia
• The #WomenCall is a “local thematic call” and a grant instrument of WIDU that does not involve diaspora donors. This means that applicants do not need a diaspora member to apply for the #WomenCall.
• The grant amount is calculated based on the investment amount of the entrepreneur: private investment x 2.5 = grant amount

The application process is entirely online, and you can start your application on www.widu.africa/women.
After the closing of the application period, the most promising applications will be selected. You will be informed of the decision via e-mail.

The #WomenCall is open for applications from 01. July 2023.
Generally, applications will be reviewed and selected on a rolling basis. That means that it is better for you if you apply as soon as possible.

In Ethiopia, the application period will close on 15. August 2023.
In Tunisia, the application period will close on 30. July 2023.

If you have any questions or are facing difficulties with our online application form, you can get in touch with our team
In Ethiopia:
Via Email: ethiopia@widu.africa
Or in person: In Ethiopia, you have the possibility to come and meet us every Thursday afternoon (2-5pm international time) in Addis Ababa at Creative Hub (Mexico, in front of Wasbishebel Hotel)

In Tunisia
Via Email: tunisia@widu.africa