Visa has today announced the launch of a grant towards the African Women Impact Fund , formed from a collaboration between Standard Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa .
With African women accounting for just 7.6% of private equity and women-led businesses receiving only 7% of Private Equity and Venture Capital in emerging markets, this highlights the opportunities that exist to reduce the current gender gaps. “The aim of She’s Next is to help women-owned businesses thrive and our ambition with this grant is to enable access in a space where women-owned firms are under-represented. Through this programme we aim to ensure that women are not only recipients but become decision-makers where institutional funding for businesses is concerned” said Aida Diarra, Senior Vice President & Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa.