Chantal Donvide, founder of aklala batik @ AWEP 2012

 It is amazing to see her growth in the years following my departure from Togo.  I was pleased to discover, through Ashley that Chantal was one of 47 women selected from West Africa to attend this years conference of African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program that took place in New York, California, DC and Ohio.  It is her first time in the US and I was graced with the chance to reconnect with her in person, at my home in DC! I am so proud of her and the women of aklala in all that they have accomplished to set the standard for ethical business development in Togo!

The African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) is a State Department initiative launched in July 2010 to identify and build networks of women entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa who are poised to transform their communities by owning; running; and operating small and medium businesses, and to drive social and economic progress in their communities and countries. AWEP supports the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), to create better business environments and promote U.S. - Africa trade.

 Chantal (2nd from upper right in blue) poses with the other participants of the AWEP 2012 group of 47 women from sub-Saharan Africa who met with Secretary Clinton as part of the AGOA Forum on Africa's growth in DC on June 14th.

AWEP U.S. - Africa Exchange
Through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs brings women entrepreneurs from African nations to the United States. Each year, approximately 40 African women entrepreneurs attend professional development meetings and network with U.S. policy makers, companies and industry associations, non-profit groups, and multilateral development organizations. For three weeks, the AWEP participants share best practices, discuss common challenges and learn about the global economy and factors that lead to long-term business growth.
 
AWEP U.S. - Africa Exchange 2012: June 3-23
In 2012, AWEP participants attend events held in conjunction with the U.S.-hosted 2012 AGOA Forum in Washington, DC, and a U.S.-Africa Business Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The women meet with U.S. counterparts and experts in three sectors, based on their area of expertise: agribusiness/food processing, textiles/fashion design, and home décor/accessories. Throughout the program, the women develop advocacy and communication skills, as well as attend workshops on accessing capital and U.S. markets, best business practices, and social entrepreneurship. The program opens in New York, New York, followed by split into smaller groups based on expertise to visit Kalamazoo, Michigan; Greenville, North Carolina; Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Seattle, Washington. Exchange program partners in 2012 include Entrepreneurs Organization, the Corporate Council on Africa, and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Labor.

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African Women: Drivers of Their Economies
Upon returning home, some alumnae of the AWEP U.S. - Africa exchange have started their own local AWEP chapters, educated aspiring entrepreneurs about exporting, established or strengthened organizations that support women’s empowerment, and increased their business capacity and revenues. AWEP alumnae have the opportunity to work with USAID’s three regional trade hubs in Africa to increase international export competitiveness and intra-regional trade. The State Department also works with the private sector to secure targeted public private partnerships that stimulate business growth, create better business environments, and increase trade capacity. 2012-2013 partnerships currently include Intel Corporation, the ExxonMobil Foundation, Vital Voices Global Partnership, and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.

AWEP Supports African Businesswomen by:

• Increasing the trade capacity of their SMEs regionally and internationally under AGOA
• Recognizing and expanding the roles women play as advocates for strengthening national business climates for all women
• Securing public private partnerships that stimulate create better business environments and stimulate the women’s business growth                                                                                (source: US Dept of State website: http://exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/awep.html)