UNDP advances women-led engagement in the informal economy at the 11th Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum 2025

October 31, 2025

Photograph of a speaker at a purple AWIEF 2025 conference stage at a podium with Breaking the Barriers banners. — The Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) 2025, where leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the continent gathered to advance women’s empowerment and inclusive economic growth.

UNDP

By Dakalo Ramudidibi

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa joined changemakers, innovators, and entrepreneurs from across the continent for the 11th Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), held on 30–31 October 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

This year’s forum, themed “Breaking the Barriers: Now More Than Ever,” convened women leaders, governments, the private sector, and development finance institutions to accelerate women’s economic empowerment and leadership in Africa.

Setting the Tone for Inclusive Development

UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Dr. Gloria Kiondo, delivered the opening keynote, setting the tone for two days of high-level dialogue on the strategic importance of women’s entrepreneurship and innovation as drivers of inclusive development.

“UNDP believes that women’s economic empowerment is not only a matter of justice, it is a fundamental driver of sustainable development,” said Kiondo.

Her message underscored UNDP’s long-standing commitment to advancing gender equality and economic inclusion through partnerships with government, the private sector, and community-based organisations.

“Across sub-Saharan Africa, over 80% of women’s employment is informal. It means that women’s economic activity often happens outside formal systems of protection, finance, and innovation,” she added. “Strengthening township economies is therefore not just about boosting a local market, it’s about transforming the primary economic platform for women entrepreneurs, enabling them to scale, access digital and financial tools, and lead sustainable businesses.”

Empowering Women Through Digital Innovation

Throughout the event, UNDP showcased its flagship initiative, the Digital Innovation for Modernising the Independent Economy (DIME) , which is redefining how technology can drive inclusion and resilience in South Africa’s township trading.

Speaker at a podium on a stage with a purple backdrop, wearing a blue patterned outfit.

Diverse audience seated in a conference hall, wearing colorful traditional clothing.

Photograph of a speaker at a podium on a purple stage with a BREAKING THE BARRIERS banner.

Three conference attendees converse, wearing badges, in warm lighting; blurred crowd in background.

To further showcase UNDP’s work in the township economy, a UNDP exhibition was staged where conference participants gained a deeper understanding of how DIME supports spaza shop owners, youth, and informal traders through digital skills training, providing digital tools to meet food safety standards, and enabling market access. The initiative demonstrates that empowering women and youth in informal economies is key to building inclusive, digitally connected communities that can thrive in a changing economy.

Building an Inclusive and Sustainable City Economy

Speaking at the opening session, Ms. Jane Sithole, Deputy Minister of the Department of Small Business Development, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for women-led enterprises.

“Access to finance remains a barrier, but this forum is challenging us to break those barriers,” said Sithole. “When women are equipped with digital skills, broadband access, and financial literacy, they do more than build businesses; they build communities and create jobs.”

Adding to the momentum, Mr. James Vos, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, commended the resilience and creativity of women entrepreneurs driving local economies.

“When we support women entrepreneurs, we’re not only helping individuals, we’re helping entire communities to thrive,” said Vos. “Cape Town is open for business, and open for women-led business.”

He emphasised that the City’s economic priorities are grounded in access to markets, supplier development, and workforce readiness, particularly for women and young people in technology, manufacturing, and creative sectors.

Photograph of a UNDP booth at a conference with attendees talking.

Two people shake hands on stage at a corporate event, backdrop with sponsor logos.

Five women panelists in colorful outfits sitting on a stage at the AWIEF 2025 conference.

Photo: three shaggy lion heads with whiskers and glassy eyes on a red display shelf.

These remarks echoed UNDP’s vision of transforming townships and informal economies into innovation-driven spaces that expand opportunity and reduce inequality, a vision reinforced by ongoing partnerships between local government, private sector actors, and development organisations.

Breaking Barriers, Together

Through platforms like AWIEF, UNDP, and its partners continue to drive forward the shared vision of an inclusive economy, one where women entrepreneurs and informal traders are recognised not as marginal participants, but as leaders of growth and resilience.

As Dr. Kiondo reminded the audience, “Women are not just participants in the economy, they are the architects of growth, the builders of resilience, and the creators of community wealth.”

View the DIME Photo Journey that was unveiled at AWIEF here

About AWIEF

The Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) is a pan-African organisation promoting women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development through innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Recognised with Special Consultative Status by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),