Lusaka, Thursday, August 15, 2019: The 50 Million Africa Women Speak project (50MAWS) and the Business and Professional Women Club of Zambia (BPW) will soon engage in a partnership to support local women in business. 50MAWS Consultant Emma Phiri and BPW Club President, Rose Sibisi recently met in Lusaka and discussed possible areas of partnering as a way of enhancing women’s participation in business.

The collaboration is expected to help minimize challenges that women face especially in the business circles.

Ms. Phiri said the 50MAWS has identified the gaps faced by women in business and her pan-African project will contribute to the economic and social empowerment of women across 38 African countries by providing a networking platform to access information on financial and non-financial services.

The 50MAWS, which is supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) targets to reach 50 million women in business. It is jointly implemented by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Ms. Phiri pledged to support and work with women in the club by linking them to the digital platform in order to allow them network, share information and be empowered.

And Ms. Sibisi welcomed the idea of creating the partnership that will enable women thrive in their various businesses. She added that the club is willing to partner with an institution or organization that will facilitate women empowerment leading them to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ms. Sibisi emphasized that the club aims to reconnect Zambia women in business and professions to the Global network of affiliates in 110 countries on five continents with intentions of recommitting themselves to the 17 SDGs.

She added that it for this reason that the club will focus on Goal number 17 which is “Partnerships for Goals”.