In a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at unlocking new funding avenues for women-led businesses in Africa, the University of Agder in Norway has partnered with the Oxford Africa Women Leadership Institute (OAWLI) to deliver a specialized crowdfunding training program.

A total of 57 women entrepreneurs from across the continent will benefit from this pioneering initiative, which will culminate in a diploma certificate.

The training program is designed to equip participants with the practical skills and tools needed to raise capital through crowdfunding—an increasingly vital funding source for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) globally.

Speaking on the significance of the collaboration, the Global Director of OAWLI, Mrs. Odelia Ntiamoah Boampong, said, "This marks the beginning of several strategic partnerships aimed at building the capacity of women-led businesses. At OAWLI, we are committed to providing women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, network, and tools they need to thrive in today’s competitive market. Crowdfunding is one of the many innovative approaches we are introducing to help these women scale their impact and access finance independently."

Representing the University of Agder, Professor Prince Baah-Peprah expressed the university’s excitement about the partnership and its long-term potential.

"We are overjoyed to partner with OAWLI on such an impactful initiative. Supporting women-led businesses through innovative funding models aligns with our mission of contributing to sustainable development through education. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with OAWLI in the years to come," he stated.

The training, which is being conducted in person at the Kofi Anna ICT Centre in Accra, brings together resource persons from Norway and Africa with expertise in finance, digital tools, and social entrepreneurship. Participants are expected to design and launch their own crowdfunding campaigns by the end of the program.

This partnership underscores the growing recognition of the crucial role women entrepreneurs play in driving economic transformation in Africa. It also highlights the increasing need for innovative financing strategies to support the ambitions of women in business.

The OAWLI-University of Agder collaboration is not just a training program—it is a movement to equip women with the resources to build sustainable enterprises that can create jobs and inspire communities.