We are pleased to see the launch of the African Women Leadership Fund, a powerful initiative to help bridge the gap in financing African women investors. AWB board member, & Founder, Aequalitas Capital, Geetha Tharmaratnam served as the Senior Investment Advisor on this Fund to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
A significant funding gap exists in financing women fund managers and entrepreneurs, which if addressed with capital and access to networks, will increase economic output, job creation, women’s economic empowerment and prosperity on the Continent. This can only be accomplished by developing the next generation of women fund managers to deliver inclusive growth on the Continent.
“There is a proven positive correlation between gender balance in investment teams and higher financial returns as well as a more significant development impact.” – Geetha Thamaratnam on the gender gap opportunity. The Fund will finance African women owned and run fund management companies and is expected to result in greater inclusion of women run businesses as investment targets.
The fund has been launched in partnership with UN-Women, the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace & Security of the AU Commission, and the African Women Leadership Network.