AWIEF 2025 Conference to Focus on Women's Economic Empowerment

• AWIEF 2025 will take place on 30–31 October at Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa
• The forum will gather entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and business influencers from Africa and the rest of the world

The Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) 2025 Conference and Exhibition will occur at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in South Africa on the 30 - 31 October 2025.

The Conference will feature dialogue, exhibition of innovations and collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, business leaders and development partners, from across Africa and the Diaspora, for two days of programming to advance women's economic empowerment and leadership.

The theme of the conference, "Breaking the Barriers: Now More Than Ever", will address, in a respectful manner, a range of significant issues of our times, including access to finance, digitization, sustainability and policy change while advocating for the themes of innovation, resilience and inclusive development throughout all the sessions, key-note speaker panels, discussions, master classes, workshops and B2B networking focused on leadership, trade/technology/ investment and policy;

And will also hear from one of our first key-note speakers, Dr Fatima Elsheikh, Secretary General, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

The additional sessions are themed around AI and the Future of Work, Women's Entrepreneurial Capital, Green Transition in Africa, and Taking Advantage of AfCFTA for intra-African trade.

The exhibition will feature innovative businesses, development agencies, and SMEs from across the continent, and will wrap up with the AWIEF Awards & Gala Dinner, taking place on 31 October, where we honor African women entrepreneurs and innovators.

We expect a group of over 70 speakers and delegates from the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, facilitating the further development of AWIEF identity as a pan-African and international platform connecting women entrepreneurs to opportunities and networks.

AWIEF was created by Irene Ochem and has taken 11 years to develop into a leading platform for women in business, which builds bridges with peers, investors and businesses to drive collaboration, leadership and economic inclusion.