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angle-left 50 Million African Women Speak platform unveiled in Seychelles
Launch of the 50 Million African Women Speak platform in Seychelles

50 Million African Women Speak platform unveiled in Seychelles

President Faure urges women in Seychelles to sign up on 50MAWSP

28 Aug 2020 - 00:00:00
The 50 Million African Women Speak (50MAWSP) platform was on Tuesday 25 August unveiled in Seychelles with the country’s President His Excellency Danny Faure urging women to seize the opportunities it will present them to do business. The launch was the first in a COMESA Member State since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and was held through a hybrid arrangement where a limited number of local participants who gathered physically at the launch venue were joined virtually by several invited guests. COMESA’s high-profile participants at the event were led by Secretary General Her Excellency Amb. Chileshe Kapwepwe, Assistant Secretaries General Amb. Dr. Kipyego Cheluget and Dr. Dev Haman as well as other officials from the Secretariat and Member States. Speaker after speaker during the event emphasized the need for women to embrace digital approaches as one of the ways to ensure their businesses survive during and after the pandemic. While making his official launch address, President Faure lauded the strong bond Seychelles enjoys with COMESA, noting that the launch of the 50MAWSP platform was “yet another example of the results of our strong relationship.” He made a case for closer collaboration at Member State level as well as among businesspeople in the region and reaffirmed the importance of digital platforms such as 50MAWSP in making this possible. “The 50 Million African Women Speak platform comes at a time when the world needs to come together and work together than ever before, following the economic and social disruption caused by COVID-19,” His Excellency Faure said. “Seychelles is grateful to COMESA and the African Development Bank for this investment. I am convinced that this will benefit many families and enable them to overcome the challenges they face. I encourage all women to sign in to www.womenconnect.org to do your part to support our families, our economy and come together for Seychelles”. The COMESA Secretary General Amb. Chileshe Kapwepwe on her part commended the Government of Seychelles for its support which ensured the successful implementation of the 50 Million African Women Speak Project, and observed that the digital platform would give women in Seychelles an opportunity for a fresh start despite the devastation by the pandemic. “The thousands of women who have already signed up to the platform have quickly found value in the various knowledge groups that connect women entrepreneurs based on their specific interests, which range from the pursuit of digital marketing skills to fashion and photography. “A tour around the platform is indeed an instant reminder that COVID-19 is not the end of the road for women entrepreneurs in Seychelles, it is only the beginning of life on the 50 Million African Women Speak platform,” she said. Amb. Kapwepwe also thanked the funding partner, African Development Bank for the financial support which has made the 50 Million African Women Speak Project possible in 36 countries across the COMESA, EAC and ECOWAS regional blocs. Seychelles Minister for Family Affairs Mrs Mitcy Larue called upon all stakeholders to actively support women. “Women upon which our society depends. We must cherish them… We must value them… We must support them… reward them… and empower them,” she stated. The 50 Million African Women Speak platform aims to facilitate a dynamic and engaging exchange of ideas among women entrepreneurs, using in-built social media functionality to connect them with one another in ways that will foster peer-to-peer learning, mentoring and the sharing of information and knowledge within communities, and access to financial services and market opportunities between urban and rural areas, and across borders and between countries. Owing to the pandemic, national launch events of the platform will be held either virtually or as a hybrid of virtual and conventional launches. Following the launch in Seychelles, launch events in 13 COMESA Member States are planned. The next launch is scheduled for 3 September 2020 in Zimbabwe.

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