Mozambique

Advancing Green and Inclusive Entrepreneurship for Women in Mozambique

In Mozambique, the IYBA WE4A project supports women entrepreneurs as catalysts for inclusive and sustainable green growth. Through gender-responsive Business Development Services (BDS), the initiative empowers both early-stage and growth-oriented women-led enterprises to accelerate their transition towards environmentally sustainable and market-driven business models.
Our approach is rooted in locally led implementation, ensuring interventions respond directly to entrepreneurs’ needs and national priorities for green economic transformation while optimizing opportunities initiated through the regional partnerships under the project.

Our Approach

Grounded in local ownership, gender responsiveness, and market orientation, the project equips women entrepreneurs to lead Mozambique’s green transition. Through tailored business development services, mentoring, and access to finance, it supports women at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey - from early ideation to business growth and scaling.

Implementation relies on strong partnerships with experienced local incubators and accelerators, ensuring that interventions are practical, context-specific, and sustainable. The initiative also fosters peer learning and visibility through storytelling, networking, and market exposure. 

We partner with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to deliver entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and seed funding that empower women entrepreneurs in Mozambique to develop and grow their green businesses.

To drive sustainable growth, we also collaborate with financial institutions such as Goodwell and Melanin Capital to design and deliver financial solutions tailored to the needs of women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), enabling them to overcome financing barriers and scale effectively.

Key Interventions

• Tailored Business Incubation and Mentoring
  Implemented in partnership with the Standard Bank Incubator, this component provides personalized guidance and mentorship to Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) graduates and other women entrepreneurs.
  • Focus on refining green business ideas based on individual needs.
  • Integration of a digital Learning Management System (LMS) to expand access to entrepreneurial training.
  • “Soft-touch” facilitation of peer-to-peer exchange, networking and access to relevant business information
• Intensive Acceleration for Growth-Oriented Enterprises
  In partnership with the Ideialab Foundation, the acceleration track combines training, coaching, and mentoring aimed at business scaling, market integration, and long-term sustainability.
  • Focus on supporting the development of green business models contributing to climate resilience and sustainable development
  • Investment readiness and linkage to second-stage financing opportunities.
• Amplifying Women’s Voices
  The “Women Powering the Sustainable Future” podcast series provides a platform for women in green businesses to share expertise, exchange ideas, discuss opportunities, and collectively address challenges in the green transition.
• Access to Markets
  • Women entrepreneurs also participate actively in national fairs and B2B networking events to gain market visibility, pitch their solutions, and establish partnerships.
• Access to Finance: A Gender-Responsive Guide
  To enhance women entrepreneurs’ investment readiness, the project has developed a   Access to Finance Guide (1.42 MB) "pdf" tailored to the specific needs of women-led green enterprises.
  • The guide maps relevant investment and financing options available in Mozambique.
  • Developed during the pilot phase and ready for replication/adaptation for green business.