ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — October 19, 2026 — The African Union (AU) is advancing an initiative aimed at expanding economic opportunities for women and young people across Africa, with a reported $100 billion financing ambition linked to the continent’s broader economic development and integration agenda.
The initiative brings attention to the relationship between access to finance, entrepreneurship, employment creation and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Women and young entrepreneurs remain important participants in Africa’s economic development, particularly in small businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, services and cross-border trade.
The AfCFTA seeks to create a more integrated African market by reducing trade barriers and facilitating economic activity among participating countries. Expanding access to financing could help women- and youth-led enterprises participate more effectively in regional value chains and continental trade.
The programme, known as the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion 2030 Initiative (WYFEI 2030), was launched in 2022. It aims to unlock $100 billion in financing for at least 10 million African women and young people by 2030. The figure represents a financing target rather than funding already disbursed
In July 2025, the AU announced further efforts to mobilize private-sector investment through partnerships involving the Sterling One Foundation and Germany’s development cooperation agency, GIZ.
More recently, during the African Union Summit in February 2026, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama called for stronger political commitments, dedicated financial resources and measurable accountability mechanisms to accelerate economic inclusion.
Implementation remains a central consideration. The initiative requires cooperation among African governments, financial institutions, development partners and private businesses to improve access to credit, expand financial services and address regulatory barriers.
The programme forms part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 development framework and its efforts to ensure that women and young people benefit from continental economic integration.