Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada launched the Women Exporters Fund (WEF) within the framework of the Women in Trade for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth (WIT) project. The Women Exporters Fund is designed to benefit women-led SMEs in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa where WIT is being implemented. In Kenya the project works with Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) as the implementing partner to increase the share of exports generated by Kenyan women-led SMEs.

Women in Trade for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth (WIT) is a 5-year (2019 - 2024) project funded by Global Affairs Canada (78%) with in cash and in-kind contributions from TFO Canada (22%). WIT aims to contribute to inclusive growth by increasing the number of women from developing countries involved in international trade as exporters.

TFO Canada is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve lives by creating sustainable trade partnerships for exporters from developing countries with Canadian and foreign buyers. TFO Canada assists SMEs and trade support/promotion Institutions (TSIs) from developing countries to access international markets through its information (general and sector-specific), advice (including capacity building), and contact services (including trade missions and business-to-business matchmaking).

Within the framework of WIT, the fund reinforces and builds on the WIT project activities of training, technical assistance, and market access by reducing financial constraints on women-led SMEs so they can increase their level of export readiness and overcome costs associated with market access. The fund is also designed to encourage linkages and create synergies with existing local initiatives and financial institutions.

The WEF offers sub-grants of between CAD $50,000 and $100,000 in size, which allow beneficiary organizations to implement 6 to 12-month-long projects that will contribute to the overall goals of the WEF and the WIT project. The funds will be accessed on a cost-share basis, with the WEF providing up to a maximum of 50% of the full costs for any initiative.

Kenyan women-led SMEs in the agro-food (fresh and processed) and artisan (home décor) sectors are encouraged to apply by submitting a 2–4-page concept paper to [email protected]  by Monday 3rd April 2023

Women Exporters Fund (WEF) Concept paper template - https://keproba-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/enjamiu_brand_ke/EY1mG47PW_tBmrjbVN7GVoYBlrj29EPBFHt50Ji1A2FgKA?e=vI4bOT