Women in Africa (WIA), a social impact company with the mission of impacting Africa’s economy by supporting African women entrepreneurs and leaders, has issued a call for the 2nd cohort of the WIA Young Leaders programme. The pan-African platform,  through its Women in Africa Philanthropy Endowment Fund, supports African students, entrepreneurs and leaders. The platform, with over 140,000 members,  also brings together, relevant stakeholders through its training and mentoring programmes towards improving the economic opportunities of African women.

WIA has partnered with Christian Dior Couture, Lazard Frères Investment bank and Huawei to launch the second edition of the WIA Young Leaders programme where 8  exceptional young women in their field of activity or competence will be selected to partake in the program.

The women will be selected by a jury comprised of internationally renowned personalities to participate in a customized training pathway focusing on women leadership, and relevant future-focused skills. Successful applicants also get to benefit from a business trip to a world economic capital with the objective of;

  • Connecting with high-level personalities and mentors such as CEOs, ministers, journalists, public figures, and successful entrepreneurs
  • Receiving training on board composition and management, media, career coaching and other relevant training.
  • Benefiting from high media visibility

Subsequently, participants will be followed-up to assess their individual needs and to respond with precision to the progression of their skills.

Application Process

The application will be carried out in two phases; the selection phase and an interview with the jury

Criteria for Selection

  • Women between the ages of 25 and 40 years (flexibility possible depending on the level of experience)
  • Born in an African country or having parents born in an African country
  • Involved in the development of the continent and social commitment
  • Leadership skills (humility, empathy and resilience)
  • Special consideration will be given to candidates with “self-made” backgrounds
  • Has a clear vision of what Africa should be like in the future.
  • Possesses the willingness to reconcile business conduct, social impact and public/private dialogue.
  • Applicants should have the ability to take on responsibilities at the highest level.
  • The applicant should possess strong convincing skills combined with a passion for teamwork.
  • Francophone, Anglophone, ideally bilingual.

Interested candidates can go ahead and apply on the WIA website

Deadline for application

Midnight, April 15, 2022 (French time).