Local Women Take To FemBioBiz Programme
Cavin Kanoko | Monday June 25, 2018 13:48
The initiative, which is currently in its second year, is a joint initiative between different southern African countries aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs as well as enabling African women scientists to play a role in the challenges presented by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (2030).
The programme is a collaboration effort between BIH and the Southern African Network for Biosciences (SANBio).
When addressing the participants last week, BIH CEO Allan Boshwaen said that it intends to develop leadership, technological and business skills in female-owned bio-businesses in the SADC region. He said the programme aims to empower innovators to realise their dreams, which can create employment adding that the programme supports their mandate as a technology hub.
“FemBioBiz acceleration programme does not only empower women entrepreneurs as it also creates peer-to-peer networks and creates awareness for women on potential careers,” he said.
As part of their first phase, last week BIH trained 22 shortlisted women in business skills, effective business models, marketing strategies just to mention a few.
A pitching session, where only 10 of them made it to the second phase, then followed.
The remaining 10 would get an opportunity to get training and mentorship till August this year when they would then compete to get position one.
The winner would then represent the country at the regional level the same month.
About three people have been selected in the category of innovation, growth business and students while one has been selected under social business. The regional winners would then have an opportunity to attend the largest gathering for start-ups and investors in Finland as part of their final prize.
The major financial partner of SANBio, Finnish-Southern African Partnership Programme’s (BioFISA 11) chief technical advisory Marja-Reetta Paaso said that they are currently holding training camps and competitions in all their eight participating countries in Africa.
“We need programmes that will come up with positive affirmative action to promote deserving female candidates.
There are different funding initiatives for the participants such as the mobility grant, which she said covers the individual’s travel and accommodation costs,” she said.