Apply for the Acumen Gender Equity and Advancement Accelerator Programme for Social Entrepreneurs (Fully funded)

Background

Acumen’s vision is of a world based on dignity, where every human being has an opportunity to thrive. Acumen is seeking a cohort of entrepreneurs who believe that integrating gender equity across strategies, processes, and day-to-day work improves how we address the problems of poverty.

Gender inclusion in business isn’t just the ethical thing to do — it’s also good for the world’s economy and sustainability. Rather than add a gender-equity lens after scaling, it’s easier and more efficient when building an inclusive company to address and prioritize gender from the start.

To support social entrepreneurs committed to leading the change in gender inclusion, our accelerator will equip leaders with the moral leadership lessons, business skills, and learnings from our successful portfolio companies to continue scaling their enterprises in a gender inclusive way.

Eligibility

The accelerator is open to entrepreneurs who:

• Run a social enterprise (nonprofit or for-profit) based in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia) or West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Gambia) who are working to solve problems of poverty and dignity
• Are dedicated to investing in their personal and business growth
• Are deeply committed to the work of tackling poverty and injustice and are interested in being part of a global community bound by values
• Have an enterprise that has been operational for 18 months or more (please note: if this is your second or third venture, this requirement is flexible. Be sure to include this in your application.)
• Have a team of three or more full-time staff
• Have a commitment to serving women across three entry points, and evidence of action in at least one:
  • Market (products and services)
  • Internal organization (workforce and policies)
  • Value chain (supply and distribution)

Benefits

• Facilitated virtual Learning Labs for peer learning and discussion
• Leadership lessons such as Listening to Voices Unheard and Partnering with Humility and Audacity
• One-on-one consultation calls with Acumen’s team
• Video tutorials on customer discovery, sales and marketing, financial modeling, pitching, and more
• Unconscious bias training, workshops, and self-assessment strategies for embedding gender inclusivity into your scaling plan
• Case studies from social enterprises that have successfully scaled and contributed to gender equity and advancement.

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