Ahead of Women's Day, $1.76 million in grants announced for women-led businesses: Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Nigeria

(Geneva) The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, has announced the disbursement of its first round of grants, totaling $1,765,000, directly benefiting 219 women-led enterprises in the Dominican Republic, Mongolia and Nigeria.

Announced ahead of International Women's Day (8 March), this first disbursement goes beyond symbolic celebration. It represents tangible support for women entrepreneurs, translating the WEIDE Fund's commitments to economic empowerment into concrete action. It also sets in motion the innovative design of the WEIDE Fund, which introduces a new model of grant financing supported by technical assistance and exposure to a multistakeholder ecosystem for enterprises.

A total of 152 "Discovery Grants" and the first tranche of 67 "Booster Grants" will provide women entrepreneurs with working capital, business coaching, e-commerce training and other skills. Discovery Grants provide up to $5,000 to early-stage micro and small businesses exploring digital trade opportunities, while the first tranche of Booster Grants will provide $15,000 of the total sum worth up to $30,000 to each of the export-ready enterprises seeking to scale up their activities.

The first round of funding includes:

• Nigeria: 141 women-led businesses (124 Discovery Grants, 17 Booster Grants)
• Mongolia: 45 women-led businesses (19 Discovery Grants, 26 Booster Grants)
• Dominican Republic: 33 women-led businesses (9 Discovery Grants, 24 Booster Grants)

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: "This is an exciting milestone that brings to life our aspirations to unlock the benefits of digital trade for more women. We must ensure that women are not left behind but are fully included in this transformative opportunity."

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton said: "These grants directly tackle the single greatest barrier women entrepreneurs face - access to finance. We look forward to hearing the stories of women using the grants to scale up in the digital economy."

A beneficiary from the Dominican Republic, Yluminada Ortega, CEO of Cacao Florencio Ortega said: "The support from the WEIDE Fund has made a real difference for our company and for me as an entrepreneur. The trainings have helped us grow and improve our work, and connecting with other women pursuing their dreams has been invaluable and inspiring. With the funds we received, we will be able to invest in new equipment to strengthen our project and create a positive impact in our community."

This first disbursement forms part of Phase I, under which a total grants package of $3.76 million has been allocated. A second round of disbursements will take place in the second quarter to include 46 women-led businesses in Jordan (23 Discovery Grants and 23 Booster Grants) and to release the second part of the Booster Grants to the beneficiaries in the Dominican Republic, Nigeria and Mongolia.

The implementation of the WEIDE Fundin the four countries is in partnership with four business support organizations: ProDominicana, the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO), the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

The grants complement ongoing technical assistance, mentorship and access to international business networks, helping women entrepreneurs strengthen their digital, managerial and export capabilities. The combined package is designed to enhance competitiveness and enable women-led businesses to expand in international markets through digital trade.

Notes for the editor

About the International Trade Centre - ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, visit www.intracen.org. Follow ITC on X | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Flickr

About the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund - The WEIDE Fund, launched in 2024 by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC), aims to help women entrepreneurs strengthen their digital capabilities and expand into global markets. The initiative is made possible through the generous support of the United Arab Emirates, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Legacy Fund, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

For more information, visit wto.org/WEIDEfund

About the World Trade Organization - The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. The WTO has 166 members, accounting for 98% of world trade. The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who meet at least once every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly at the WTO's headquarters in Geneva).

For more information, visit WTO | Who we are

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