If you’re an African entrepreneur grinding day and night to build something meaningful, here’s some good news you’ll love — one of the biggest global funders is putting serious money behind women-led and gender-diverse small businesses. And yes, Africa is included.
The Visa Foundation’s Equitable Access Initiative is not just another small grant; it’s a five-year, $200 million commitment to make sure entrepreneurs who have been historically excluded finally get access to the capital and support they need to grow.
This initiative began in 2020 and continues into 2025 and beyond — meaning this is still a powerful opportunity for women-led African small businesses looking for early-stage support, training, and access to international funding networks.
Let’s break it all down.
What Is the Visa Foundation Equitable Access Initiative?
The initiative is a global effort to close the funding gap for women-led, gender-diverse, and inclusive small and micro businesses (SMBs).
But what makes this program unique is how it supports businesses:
- It doesn’t only give grants
- It doesn’t only give investments
- It doesn’t only offer training
It creates a whole ecosystem of capital, capacity building, and support organizations so small entrepreneurs can grow long-term — not just survive the next three months.
The $200 Million Breakdown
The total commitment is split into two major buckets:
💰 $60 Million in Direct Grants
These grants go to nonprofits and partner organizations that support women-led businesses.
In turn, these partner organizations distribute smaller grants to entrepreneurs across Africa, South America, Asia, and other emerging markets.
💼 $140 Million in Impact Investments
This pool funds investment firms and funds that back gender-diverse startups and inclusive small businesses.
The goal is simple:
Make gender-lens investing mainstream, not a niche.
What This Means for African Entrepreneurs
The Visa Foundation doesn’t usually open applications directly.
Instead, they work with trusted partners in Africa who run the programs, select entrepreneurs, and distribute grant funding.
In the last few years, the foundation has supported:
- Women-led tech startups in Nigeria and Kenya
- Early-stage entrepreneurs building with very limited capital
- Small businesses that need up to $10,000 for operations and growth
- Organizations training African women founders on leadership, financial management, and investor-readiness
This means:
Instead of one big annual application, there are multiple smaller opportunities announced throughout the year.
Why This Grant Is Good for Early-Stage African Businesses
If your business is still small — maybe you’re running it from home, bootstrapping, or using your savings — this initiative is perfect for you.
Here’s why:
✔ Early-stage friendly
They’ve already funded women-led startups with as little as an idea, prototype, or small working model.
✔ Focus on underserved founders
If you’ve struggled to access loans, investors, or business support, this program is literally designed for you.
✔ Not just money — mentorship too
Selected entrepreneurs often get strategic coaching, capacity-building, and investor exposure.
✔ Africa is a priority region
Visa Foundation emphasizes emerging markets, and Africa has consistently been included.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility depends on the specific partner organization running the program, but the general pattern looks like this:
Most opportunities will require you to be:
- A woman-led or gender-inclusive business
- A small or micro enterprise (SME/MSME)
- In an early or growth stage
- Located in an eligible African country, which often includes:
- Nigeria
- Kenya
- Ghana
- South Africa
- Rwanda
- Uganda
- Tanzania
- And more, depending on the partner
How to Find and Apply for Visa Foundation Opportunities in Your Country
Here’s the real trick:
Visa Foundation rarely posts open calls themselves.
You’ll need to watch for partner organizations who receive funding to distribute.
These partners include:
- Local accelerators
- NGOs supporting women entrepreneurs
- Entrepreneurship hubs
- Investment funds working on gender-lens investing
Your best strategy:
Check regularly for:
- Calls for applications from hubs in Nigeria (e.g., Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt)
- Women-focused entrepreneurship programs
- Capacity-building programs backed by Visa or global partners
- Early-stage incubators announcing $5,000–$10,000 funding for women-led businesses
Where to Start Looking (Practical Tip)
Keep an eye on:
- Visa Foundation’s partner announcements
- Your local entrepreneurship hubs
- Women-focused incubators and accelerators
- Their African partners during previous rounds
- Press releases from Visa or Visa Foundation regarding SME support
In Nigeria especially, several partners have run Visa-supported programs awarding around $10,000 per entrepreneur, plus training.
Final Thoughts
The Visa Foundation’s Equitable Access Initiative is one of the largest global commitments supporting women-led and gender-diverse small businesses — and African entrepreneurs are absolutely part of that picture.
If you’re a woman founder or running a gender-inclusive business, especially in the early stages, this is one funding stream you want to keep your eyes on throughout 2025.
You don’t have to do this journey alone.
There is money available — and this is one of the most reliable sources. Check out their website here