Women-owned Enterprise Development

The Women-owned Enterprise Development facilitates the development of women-owned and run micro- and small-enterprises.

Key challenges these entrepreneurs face are a lack of investment funds, insufficient business development support and skills development. If these challenges are addressed, rural businesses, under the dynamic leadership of empowered women entrepreneurs, have the potential to create jobs and wealth in rural communities, where these are in short supply.

Masisizane intends to help address these challenges and to help rural women succeed, by developing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises so as to stimulating job creating and enterprise development for women.

The Women-owned Enterprise Development will receive R260m, with the focus being on women-owned enterprises across all of the provinces, although there will be a cap on investments made in enterprises in the Western Cape and Gauteng. These enterprises  will also receive technical support, including mentorship.

The particular focus within these women-owned enterprises will be on investments in start-up businesses and businesses established for less than 5 years, requiring capital less than R5m, and employing less than 50 people.

Old Mutual will facilitate a product-to-market initiative by engaging with leading South African companies to help create markets for the products and services of these women entrepreneurs.