AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme 2026 for South African women Entrepreneurs.

Application Deadline: 7 September 2026 Applications are now open for the 2026 AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme. A fully funded 12-month enterprise and supplier development programme for established, black women-owned, product-based businesses in South Africa — built to grow your capacity, your buyers and your markets. The Nedbank–AWIEF Women Enterprise Growth and Export Programme is a 12-month enterprise and supplier development programme for established, black women-owned, product-based businesses in South Africa. It is designed to help participating businesses strengthen their operations, improve their financial and market readiness, and access larger corporate, retail, public-sector, regional and international opportunities. It forms part of a three-year partnership between Nedbank and AWIEF that will support 75 black women-owned SMMEs, with 25 businesses selected for each annual cohort. Selected businesses receive practical business growth training, an individual business diagnostic and development plan, coaching, technical mentoring, supplier and retail-readiness support, financial and investment-readiness support, export development and market-access linkages Requirements ✓Be at least 51% owned by black women ✓Qualify as an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) or Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) ✓Be legally registered and operating in South Africa ✓Be post-revenue, currently trading and serving paying customers ✓Be product-based — producing, manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging, formulating or distributing physical products ✓Operate in one of the priority sectors listed below ✓Be looking to expand market access nationally, regionally, intra-Africa and internationally ✓Nominate a woman owner who can commit to the full 12-month programme Priority Areas The programme is open to product-based businesses in the following eleven sectors. Agriculture & Agro-processing Manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Cleaning & Hygiene Textile, Apparel & Accessories Beauty, Wellness & Personal Care Tourism & Hospitality Design & Craft Building & Construction Green Economy & Renewable Energy Circular Economy Application Timeline: 12 August 2026: Applications Open 7 September 2026: Applications Close Phase I · September – October 2026 Screening & Selection Application screening and shortlisting Due diligence and structured interviews Final selection of 25 participating businesses Phase II · 10–11 November 2026 Official Launch & Bootcamp Programme launch at the AWIEF2026 Conference & Exhibition, CTICC, Cape Town In-person two-day bootcamp Phase III · November 2026 – October 2027 Programme Implementation Training, coaching, mentoring, diagnostics and market-access support For More Information: Visit the Official Webpage of the AWIEF-NedBank Women Enterprise Growth & Export Programme