Invitation for Applications: SWEEP Provides Women Entrepreneurs With A Free 4-Week Intensive Course
The goal of the Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment via Affirmative Procurement Reforms (SWEEP) initiative is to remove obstacles that restrict women-owned and led businesses (WOLBs) in Nigeria’s procurement industry. Despite making up 40% of Nigerian companies, women entrepreneurs have a difficult time getting public contracts, which limits their ability to have an economic influence.
SWEEP, a 4-week intensive course in a hybrid format, launched in collaboration with the World Bank and the Young Professionals Program (YPP) to give women entrepreneurs the essential procurement skills they need to win contracts in the public and private sectors. Women entrepreneurs from all sectors of the Abuja economy are eligible to participate in the program.
By addressing barriers including financial access, knowledge gaps, and business formalization through training, mentorship, and interaction with important stakeholders, SWEEP enables women-owned and women-led enterprises in Abuja to engage in procurement competitively.
Our goal is to create a more welcoming business climate that encourages female entrepreneurs and advances Nigeria’s larger development objectives, such as eradicating poverty, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable growth.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Women Entrepreneurs in Abuja: The business must be owned or led by a woman and operate within Abuja.
- Commitment to Participation: Applicants must be committed to attending all training sessions.
- Informal or Early-Stage Businesses: Priority will be given to businesses that are not yet fully formalized and require guidance in formalization.
- Financial Flexibility: No strict financial requirements. Businesses with limited financial resources are encouraged to apply.
- Willingness to Formalize: Applicants must be open to formalizing their business operations as part of the training.
Criteria for Women-Owned/Women-Led Businesses:
- Women-Owned Enterprises: The business must be at least 51% owned by women.
- Leadership Criteria: At least 20% women ownership and women in key leadership roles (CEO, COO, etc.) qualify.
- Board Representation: Businesses with 30% female representation on the board will be prioritize.
The Curriculum
1 month / 3 Modules / 11 classes / 2 – 4 hrs per class (inclusive of 15 minutes break).
Our hybrid format offers flexibility and accessibility, combining the benefits of face-to-face interactions with the convenience of online learning.
The curriculum is divided into three core modules:
Module 1: Procurement Access
- Understanding Public and Private Sector Procurement Processes
- Affirmative and Digital Procurement.
- Bid Preparation and Contract Lifecycle Management.
- Procurement Compliance and Legal Considerations
Module 2 – Innovative Financial Inclusion Models for Women Entrepreneurs.
- Access to Capital Microloans, Grants, and Alternative Financing Models
- Business Resilience and Adaptive Financial Strategies
- Financial Planning and Capital Efficiency.
- Tax Compliance and Legal Registration.
Module 3 – Digital Skills Mastery for Women-Led Businesses
- Leveraging Social Media for Business Visibility and Customer Engagement.
- Navigating E-Procurement Platforms and Digital Payment Systems.
- Website Optimization and Digital Marketing Strategies.
Click here to register
