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Women in business across Africa are being urgently called upon to combat the alarming rates of early marriage and lack of educational access for girls, with approximately 400 million girls forced into child marriage and 250 million denied education due to financial barriers. The Zambia Federation of Associations of Women in Business (ZFAWIB), the COMFWB Zambia Chapter, recently underscored this imperative at the "Women Creating Wealth" program's graduation, a joint initiative with the Graça Machel Trust aimed at empowering women and adolescent girls. This program, championed by Siphira Chisha, focuses on equipping women with leadership and financial literacy to foster positive change and help other women, particularly young girls, achieve better lives. ZFAWIB CEO Maureen Sumbwe also encouraged women entrepreneurs to form strategic alliances and leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement as Zambia prioritizes policies for women's empowerment.

The Tunisian Food & Handcrafts Expo 2025, held from June 16th to 18th in Nairobi, successfully connected Tunisian and Kenyan women entrepreneurs, fostering trade and cultural exchange. Hosted at the Radisson Blu, Arboretum, the event provided a crucial platform for Tunisian women from CNFCE and COMFWB Tunisia to showcase their products and services while networking with FOWEK (COMFWB Kenya Chapter) members. Highlights included exploring authentic Tunisian goods, live cooking demonstrations, and a dynamic B2B session that spurred new cross-border ventures. The expo reinforced the power of collaboration between FOWEK and CNFCE, celebrating culture and creating opportunities, with special recognition given to COMFWB Tunisia and its Vice Chairperson, Madam Leila Belkhiria, for her leadership in strengthening women's business networks across Africa.

The Tunisian Food & Handcrafts Expo 2025, held from June 16th to 18th in Nairobi, successfully connected Tunisian and Kenyan women entrepreneurs, fostering trade and cultural exchange. Hosted at the Radisson Blu, Arboretum, the event provided a crucial platform for Tunisian women from CNFCE and COMFWB Tunisia to showcase their products and services while networking with FOWEK (COMFWB Kenya Chapter) members. Highlights included exploring authentic Tunisian goods, live cooking demonstrations, and a dynamic B2B session that spurred new cross-border ventures. The expo reinforced the power of collaboration between FOWEK and CNFCE, celebrating culture and creating opportunities, with special recognition given to COMFWB Tunisia and its Vice Chairperson, Madam Leila Belkhiria, for her leadership in strengthening women's business networks across Africa

On June 3rd, the "Women Creating Wealth" Country Forum and Certification ceremony in Lilongwe celebrated the certification of 114 Malawian women entrepreneurs who completed their transformative training with the Graça Machel Trust. The event, actively supported by COMFWB Malawi Chairperson, Selina Mwenelupembe, and COMFWB CEO, Mr. Chikakula Miti, emphasized the vital partnership between GMT and COMFWB, focusing on market access and networking. Beyond recognizing three "jumpstart" winners, the forum served as a powerful testament to the unstoppable spirit of women shaping Malawi's business future, with COMFWB officials highlighting the crucial importance of collaboration and linkages.

On May 27, 2025, the COMFWB Burundi Chapter (AFAB), with support from ICR and SNV, validated its Code of Conduct and Protocol for the Prevention of Abuse, Exploitation, and Sexual Harassment (PEAHS), marking a significant step towards a safer environment for women entrepreneurs in Burundi. This pioneering initiative establishes a clear framework for reporting misconduct and accessing comprehensive support, including healthcare, psychological, and legal aid, while also outlining sanctions for perpetrators and implementing preventative measures. Reinforced by subsequent training for provincial focal points, this achievement aims to foster trust, transparency, and confidence for AFAB members and their employees, ushering in a new era of ethical business practices in the country.

The 6th COMFWB Trade Fair and Business Conference, held in Addis Ababa in May 2025, convened 1200 participants and over 50 expert panelists for seven business conferences and a specialized masterclass. This pivotal event facilitated knowledge exchange, networking, and growth opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs, addressing key themes such as leveraging regional trade agreements like the AfCFTA, enhancing access to finance and digital platforms, fostering institutional synergies, and promoting sustainable investments in green and circular economies. The conference, complemented by B2B platforms and a masterclass on AfCFTA and COMESA market opportunities for women, underscored a collective commitment to advancing regional integration and the economic empowerment of women and youth across Africa.