csrreporters 
African women entrepreneurs are intensifying their push to play a bigger role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), seeking to unlock opportunities within its $3.4 trillion market while overcoming persistent barriers to finance and cross-border trade.
At SheConnectsAfrica 2025 in Lagos, more than 80 women business owners participated in a three-day workshop designed to help women-led enterprises formalise operations, strengthen compliance, and expand into regional markets. The initiative—supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in partnership with GIZ and the ECOWAS Commission—forms part of ongoing efforts to make Africa’s trade liberalisation agenda more inclusive.
Women currently lead about 40% of Africa’s small businesses but remain underrepresented in export markets, constrained by high compliance costs, limited financing options, and weak integration into supply chains. Organisers of the Lagos workshop argue that bridging this gap could unlock billions of dollars in untapped trade potential.
Participants engaged in expert-led sessions on tax compliance, trade rules, and business registration, while financial institutions showcased SME-focused lending tailored to cross-border ventures. For many women, the workshop provided their first direct interaction with lenders willing to finance international expansion.
Government agencies also emphasised the importance of digital trust, transparent tariff structures, and stronger export readiness to help women-led enterprises compete in wider African markets. With AfCFTA poised to redefine the continent’s economic future, women are expected to play a central role in its success, especially in sectors like light manufacturing and services where entry barriers are lower.
Still, experts caution that sustained progress depends on consistent access to finance, market intelligence, and trade facilitation support. Without these, the gains from workshops and capacity-building efforts may remain limited.
By positioning women entrepreneurs at the forefront of AfCFTA, initiatives like SheConnectsAfrica aim to give them an early competitive advantage and ensure Africa’s trade future is inclusive, innovative, and transformative.
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