Apply for the Women in Digital Business (WiDB) Program

Application Deadline: September 5, 2025.

Are you a woman entrepreneur ready to take your business to the next level? The Women in Digital Business (WiDB) Program, powered by AM-Steve House in collaboration with the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC/ILO) and Microsoft Philanthropies, is now open for applications. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to empower African women to succeed in the digital economy by providing cutting-edge training, practical tools, and the support needed for business growth and formalization.

The application deadline is September 5, 2025, and spots are highly competitive. Now is the time to secure your place in this transformative program.

Driving Digital Growth for Women Entrepreneurs in Africa

Across Africa, women-led businesses are powerful engines of economic growth, yet many face barriers when it comes to digital adoption, business formalization, and access to resources. The WiDB Program addresses these challenges by offering a holistic and scalable training model that equips women with essential digital and business skills.

The program’s vision is bold:

Pilot Phase: Train 100 women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
Follow-On Phase: Expand training to 400 women across Africa.
Incubation Phase: Support 5,000 entrepreneurs with hands-on business guidance.
Full Rollout: Reach 50,000 African women entrepreneurs over three years, across 22 cohorts.

By combining digital knowledge with practical business skills, WiDB is setting a new standard for women’s economic empowerment in Africa.

What Participants Gain

The WiDB Program is structured into three powerful phases, ensuring every participant gains knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies to grow a sustainable business.

1. Foundations Program on Digital Skills

Participants will learn:

Why digitalization matters in business.
How to build and strengthen an online presence.
Effective strategies for selling online.
How to adapt business operations with digital tools.

By the end of this phase, each participant will create a Digitalization Action Plan tailored to her business.

2. ILO’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Training

This internationally recognized program covers:

Generate Your Business Idea (GYBI) – identifying and validating business opportunities.
Start Your Business (SYB) – intensive workshops to design a solid business plan.
Improve Your Business (IYB) – advanced modules on marketing, financial management, planning, and productivity.

3. Formalization Support

Formalization is crucial for long-term business sustainability. The program provides:

Guidance on business registration and compliance.
Coverage of registration fees and legal support.
Advisory services for branding, marketing, and positioning.
Investment readiness and fundraising assistance for outstanding participants.

Who Can Apply?

To join the WiDB Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be a woman entrepreneur between the ages of 18 and 60.
Reside in one of the 55 African countries.
Be an aspiring or existing entrepreneur with a viable business idea or an operational enterprise.

Preference will be given to women leading non-tech MSMEs seeking to grow their businesses through digital innovation.

Why This Program Matters

The WiDB Program is more than training—it’s a movement to close the gender gap in Africa’s digital economy. By helping women embrace technology, formalize their businesses, and access global opportunities, the program is directly contributing to inclusive economic growth across the continent.

With support from global partners like Microsoft Philanthropies and the ILO, the program blends world-class expertise with practical tools tailored for African realities.

How to Apply

Applications are open until September 5, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the WiDB cohort and join thousands of women across Africa who are building stronger, more sustainable businesses.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE