HERfrica by She-EO

The second half of 2026 has marked an important transition for HERfrica by She-EO. What began as a program in development has now moved into implementation, with women entrepreneurs actively participating in a structured fellowship designed to strengthen their businesses, leadership, financial capacity, and support networks.

From Planning to Action:

Following the foundational work completed earlier in the year, we launched the 2026 HERfrica Business Fellowship, bringing together women entrepreneurs working across food, agriculture, healthcare, and other sectors.

The fellowship is designed around a simple belief: women entrepreneurs should not have to build alone. Many women running small and growing businesses have the determination and ideas to succeed, but lack access to experienced mentors, practical business knowledge, supportive networks, and spaces where they can openly discuss the challenges of building a business.

HERfrica is creating that space.

What We Have Accomplished: During this reporting period, we:

• Launched the 2026 HERfrica Business Fellowship and welcomed our selected Fellows.

• Matched participants with experienced women mentors who provide guidance throughout the fellowship.

• Began a series of practical business masterclasses covering purpose, personal finance, business resilience, pricing, profitability, cost management, and business growth.

• Created opportunities for Fellows to learn directly from experienced entrepreneurs, finance professionals, healthcare leaders, and business executives.

• Introduced practical assignments that require participants to apply what they learn directly to their businesses.

• Established mentorship breakout sessions where Fellows can receive more personalized guidance and accountability.

• Continued building a community where women entrepreneurs can learn from one another, share challenges, and develop meaningful relationships across sectors and backgrounds.

Learning Beyond the Classroom:

One of the most encouraging aspects of the fellowship has been seeing participants move from simply learning concepts to examining their own businesses differently.

Fellows are being encouraged to understand their numbers, examine their pricing and profitability, identify risks that could affect their businesses, prepare for seasonal challenges, and think more intentionally about sustainability and growth.

Our sessions are deliberately practical. We want participants to leave each conversation with something they can take back to their businesses and implement.

Building a Community of Women Entrepreneurs:

HERfrica is also addressing something that is often less visible: the isolation that can come with entrepreneurship. Through mentorship, peer conversations, and shared learning, Fellows are discovering that many of the challenges they face are not theirs alone.

The fellowship is creating opportunities for women working in different sectors and coming from different experiences to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and build relationships that can extend beyond the program.

What Comes Next: As we continue through the 2026 fellowship, our focus will be on:

• Completing the remaining business masterclasses and mentorship sessions.

• Supporting Fellows as they implement their learning.

• Continuing one-on-one and group mentorship.

• Documenting participant progress, challenges, and lessons learned.

• Creating opportunities for Fellows to showcase their businesses and connect with wider networks.

• Evaluating the fellowship and using participant feedback to strengthen future HERfrica cohorts.

Looking Ahead:

The progress made this year has reinforced our belief that access to knowledge is important, but access to people, community, and practical support can be just as transformative.

HERfrica is becoming more than a mentorship program. It is growing into a community where African women entrepreneurs can find knowledge, encouragement, accountability, and relationships that help them build stronger businesses.

We are grateful to everyone who has supported this journey and made it possible for these women to participate. Thank you for believing in African women entrepreneurs and in the power of women building together.

With appreciation,
The She-EO Team