CGI commended for recognising Awep Malawi chapter

The Malawian chapter of the African Women Entrepreneurship Programme, (Awep) has commended the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) for recognising the programme in a bid to increase the funding opportunities available to Awep members thereby enabling greater access to global markets and increasing trade and investment in Africa.

Awep country ambassador Grace Mijiga said this on Tuesday following a statement released on September 26 by CGI which revealed that the initiative has selected the State Department’s Awep as one of this year’s CGI commitment to action honourees for its programme to help women entrepreneurs develop and integrate their businesses into local supply chains.

Mijiga said the support towards the Awep will be a long term solution to problems encountered by the programme, adding that their organisation will utilise the chance efficiently.

“We are pleased to be among this year’s CGI’s commitment projects. We are hopeful that this project will benefit us a lot being one of the less funded programmes. We will make use of every little opportunity that may arise from this support,” she said.

She said Awep Malawian chapter is currently in the process of drafting a list of contributions they want from the initiative following the official communication from CGI that was sent on Saturday last week requesting the organisation to do so.

Meanwhile, Awep entrepreneurs are accessing mentoring and building partnerships with United States women-owned firms through a platform arranged by CGI online.

Through the support, Awep will launch a project named Missing Middle of Africa Supply Chain Project which will facilitate supplier development opportunities for African women entrepreneurs and help the women entrepreneurs develop and integrate their businesses into local supply chains.

Launched in July 2010, Awep is a programme that identifies and builds networks of women entrepreneurs across sub-Saharan Africa poised to transform their societies by owning, running, and operating small and medium businesses, and by becoming voices for social advocacy in their communities in more than 1 600 businesses and 22 chapters throughout sub-Saharan Africa.