ECoWYERT Program 2027 for Women and Youth Led Enterprises

Applications are open for the Enhancing Capacities of Women and Youth led Enterprises for Regional Trade, known as the ECoWYERT Program 2027. The programme is designed for young people, entrepreneurs, traders and enterprises seeking to strengthen their skills, grow their businesses and explore opportunities in regional trade.

The ECoWYERT Program is implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and led by the United Nations Development Programme. The initiative is co implemented with the COMESA Federation of Women in Business, the Better Than Cash Alliance and the Trade and Development Fund across Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The wider project runs from 2025 to 2030 and aims to strengthen the participation of women and young people in regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The programme provides practical and market focused support for participants at different stages of their employment, business and trade journeys. This includes young people preparing to enter employment or start businesses, informal traders seeking to improve their operations, growing enterprises looking for better market access and established businesses preparing to expand into regional markets.

Participants can select a category that best reflects their current stage. The available categories include New to Trade Youth, Existing Traders, Growing Trade Enterprises and Scaling Trade Enterprises. Each category is designed around the specific needs of participants, from employability and entrepreneurship skills to export readiness and regional market expansion.

About the ECoWYERT Program

The Enhancing Capacities of Women and Youth led Enterprises for Regional Trade Program is a five year regional initiative focused on strengthening women and youth led enterprises in six African countries.

The programme recognizes that entrepreneurs need more than business ideas to participate successfully in regional trade. They also need financial knowledge, business management skills, market information, digital tools, customer development skills and an understanding of export requirements.

Through targeted training and support, ECoWYERT helps participants build the capacity needed to improve their businesses and identify opportunities beyond their domestic markets. Established enterprises can also receive support to strengthen their supply chains, improve export readiness and prepare for expansion across Africa.

The programme is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs and young people in rural, peri urban and border communities, where access to business development services and regional market opportunities can be limited.

Opportunity Benefits

Depending on the selected category, participants can gain:

• Practical employability skills

• Entrepreneurship and business management skills

• Financial literacy and financial management skills

• Improved business record keeping

• Business planning and growth strategies

• Marketing and customer development skills

• Digital business and selling tools

• Business formalisation guidance

• Cross border trade skills

• Export readiness skills

• Knowledge of regional markets

• Understanding of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area

Programme Categories

New to Trade Youth

This category is designed for young women and men between 16 and 35 years old who are preparing to enter employment, start a business or develop an existing income generating activity.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Youth not in education, employment or training

• Aspiring entrepreneurs

• Young people transitioning from education or vocational training

• Young people seeking employment or entrepreneurship opportunities

• Young people seeking to transform farming or other income generating activities into sustainable businesses

Participants receive practical support in employability, entrepreneurship, financial management and business development, alongside an introduction to cross border trade and regional markets.

Existing Traders

This category is intended for people already engaged in trading activities.

It includes:

• Sole traders

• Rural traders

• Peri urban traders

• Small scale cross border traders

• Informal businesses

Participants can strengthen their business management and financial record keeping skills while improving marketing, customer engagement and digital business practices.

The training also introduces participants to business formalisation and regional trade opportunities.

Growing Trade Enterprises

This category is designed for businesses that have moved beyond the initial idea stage and are seeking to strengthen their operations and prepare for growth.

It includes:

• Micro businesses

• Small businesses

• Home based enterprises

• Small scale processors

Participants can develop skills in business planning, financial management, marketing, customer development and market access.

Scaling Trade Enterprises

This category is intended for more established and growth oriented enterprises.

It includes:

• Medium sized businesses

• Formal enterprises

• Aggregators

• Growth oriented businesses

Participants receive support focused on export readiness, supply chains, business systems and regional market opportunities, helping them prepare for expansion across African markets.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should select the programme category that best reflects their current employment, business or trade situation.

New to Trade Youth

• Young women and men aged 16 to 35

• Youth not currently in education, employment or training

• Aspiring entrepreneurs

• Young people transitioning from education or vocational training

• Young people seeking to develop farming or other income generating activities into sustainable businesses

Existing Traders

• Sole traders

• Rural traders

• Peri urban traders

• Small scale cross border traders

• Informal businesses

Growing Trade Enterprises

• Micro businesses

• Small businesses

• Home based enterprises

• Small scale processors

Scaling Trade Enterprises

• Medium sized businesses

• Formal enterprises

• Aggregators

• Growth oriented businesses

The programme is implemented across Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Required Application Information

Applicants should provide complete and accurate information through the online application form.

• Completed online application form

• Accurate personal or enterprise information

• Selection of the category that best represents the applicant's current stage

Applicants should ensure that the information submitted accurately reflects their employment, business or trade situation.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Completing an application does not guarantee selection into the programme.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the programme team.

Applicants are therefore encouraged to provide complete and accurate information and select the category that most closely matches their current circumstances.

How to Apply

1. Review the four ECoWYERT categories and identify the one that best matches your current employment, business or trade stage.
2. Confirm that your profile or enterprise fits the requirements of the selected category.
3. Prepare accurate information about your current situation and business or entrepreneurial activities where applicable.
4. Complete the official ECoWYERT online application form.
5. Review your application carefully before submitting it.
6. Submit the application and wait for communication from the programme team if you are shortlisted.