EU & Partners Launch 2nd Cohort of IYBA-WE4A Program

• The European Union (EU), OACPS, BMZ, GIZ, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) unveiled the second cohort of the Investing in IYBA-WE4A Programme
• It was launched on October 6, 2025, in Nigeria

The European Union (EU), Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) today announced the opening of the second cohort of the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA-WE4A) Programme.

Following on the success of the initial cohort that covered 751 African women-owned green enterprises with a total of USD $3.99 million of funding, the partners would want to increase their impact by equipping more than 1,000 women entrepreneurs creating innovative solutions in critical green areas.

The applications run from October 6, 2025, through January 25, 2026. TEF Selected Fellows will get USD $5,000 seed capital, business management training, a green-oriented curriculum aligned to an individual's needs, mentorship, and lifetime membership in TEFConnect to enhance long-term business growth and investment preparedness.

The target areas are sustainable agriculture, blue economy, renewable energy, circular economy, eco-tourism, construction, and logistics.

Beneficiaries will gain USD $5,000 of non-refundable seed capital to fuel business expansion; management training in business under the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, with a tailored green curriculum; mentorship and lifetime membership to TEFConnect for continued development and access to funding opportunities.

The project highlights the mutual desire of the EU, OACPS, BMZ, GIZ, and TEF to pursue gender-oriented economic empowerment and sustainable development, while furthering the objectives of the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP III) as well as contributing to Africa's transition towards a green economy.

Somachi Chris-Asoluka, the CEO of Tony Elumelu Foundation, underlined the Foundation's unwavering commitment to empowering female entrepreneurs, observing that scaling up the programme will further entrench women-owned businesses in Africa's green economy.

Romina Kochius, WE4D Programme Director, underscored the important role of the private sector in driving poverty reduction, equality, and social advancement through programmes of such magnitude.