The $287 Billion Opportunity: Investing in Young African Women as an Economic Strategy
Track
Shaping Capital Systems
Format
The Collaborative Forum ((Up to 3 Facilitators/Speakers))
Speakers
- NameSimi Nwogugu
- TitlePresident & CEO
- OrganizationJunior Achievement Africa (JA Africa)
- NameAdriana Poglia
- TitleHead of Social Equity
- OrganizationZ Zurich Foundation
- NameAly Rahim
- TitleProgram Manager, CIVIC/ Global Partnership for Social Accountability
- OrganizationWorld Bank
Description
More than 72 million young Africans are not in education, employment, or training with two-thirds of them being young women (ILO, 2023). McKinsey estimates that if young women were fully included in economic activity, Africa’s GDP could grow by $287 billion. JA Africa’s Social Equity Program (SEP) is building a pipeline of investment-ready young entrepreneurs by combining entrepreneurship education with mentorship and access to low-cost financing, reaching 175,000+ youth.
This session presents SEP as an investable pathway to unlock a $287 billion opportunity for marginalised African female entrepreneurs. We will share the model, results and how philanthropic capital can catalyse private investment to expand economic participation at scale.
