If you’re a female entrepreneur looking to enhance your leadership and business management skills, the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative (AWEC) offers a fantastic opportunity.

This innovative program is designed to empower women by building their capacity to succeed in business.

Each year, AWEC accepts 200 women into its 12-month program, and applications for the next cohort are now open.

The deadline for submitting your application is Sunday, 2 February 2025, at 11:59 PM UTC. For more details, visit www.weareawec.org.

Application Tips for Success

If you’re preparing to apply, AWEC offers a helpful resource called Entrepreneur Essentials.

This brief course is created to guide you through the application process, helping you to fill out your form correctly and also evaluate and improve your business.

Here are some tips to help ensure your application stands out:

Be Authentic

AWEC is interested in getting to know you, not a perfect version of you.

The application is about understanding who you are and what your business is about.

Don’t stress over giving the “right” answers—just be yourself.

Answer the Question Directly

It’s easy to get caught up in over-explaining, but keep your answers clear and to the point.

Read the questions carefully and respond only to what’s being asked.

Avoid jargon or buzzwords—just speak plainly and honestly.

Know Your Numbers

The application will ask for important data such as revenue, employees, and customers.

This is not a place for guessing or exaggerating.

If you’re unsure about any specific number, make an educated estimate and be transparent about it. Accuracy is key.

Avoid Copy-Pasting

AWEC values original responses.

While it might be tempting to use AI tools like ChatGPT or even the website’s content, remember that the team is skilled at recognizing plagiarized material.

They want your personal thoughts and responses, not something that’s been copied from elsewhere.

Proofread

Once you’ve completed your application, take the time to review it.

Look for any typos or missing information.

Did you answer every question fully? Sometimes a quick read-through can make a huge difference in presenting your best self.

Eligibility Criteria

Before you apply, make sure you meet the following criteria:

You must be from an African country, either living on the continent or in the diaspora. If you’re in the diaspora, your business must have a clear impact on Africa, whether through the products and services you create or based on where your customers reside.
Your business must be for-profit and in operation for at least 2 years. You should also have at least two employees, whether full-time or part-time. Founders of social enterprises are welcome to apply, but founders of NGOs or nonprofit organizations are not eligible.
You need access to a reliable internet connection with enough bandwidth for video calls during the program’s 12 months.
Professional proficiency in English is required.
Comfort with remote work and collaboration, especially using digital tools, is essential.

AWEC admissions are open to all qualified applicants, regardless of race, religion, age, disability, marital status, education, business revenue, industry, or geographic location.

This could be your chance to take your business to the next level, so don’t miss out on applying before the deadline!

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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