As the African proverb says, “you empower a woman, you empower a nation”. Taking this powerful thought forward, the 2nd season of the FemBioBiz Acceleration Programme aims to trigger the possibility of empowering a generation by empowering the women.

Meet 67-year old Charline Rosie Morel, the oldest FemBioBiz Season 2 participant from Seychelles, a qualified nurse by profession who got her start in entrepreneurship later in life. 

Africa continues to be defined by stereotypes: it is poor; it is conflict-ridden; it is starving and dangerous. Subsequently we have come to believe and even been retold our own narrative based on this skewed perception.

As the country celebrates the centenary of one of the great daughters of the African soil Mama Albertina Sisulu, this women’s month NEPAD SANBio is shining a light on females who are continuously playing their part in recognising and emulating Mama Albertina’s values.

The 2nd phase of the Zambian edition of FemBioBiz Acceleration Programme Season 2 concluded on Friday last week in Lusaka, with four female bio-entrepreneurs selected to represent the country at the annual SA Innovation Summit to be held in September in Cape Town.

The phase 2 competition of the FemBioBiz Acceleration Programme participants echoed a common purpose: to use Mozambique’s abundant and underutilised natural resources to better the wellbeing of their communities.

The 2nd phase of the South African edition of FemBioBiz Acceleration Programme concluded on Friday last week in Cape Town, with four female bio-entrepreneurs selected to represent SA and Lesotho at the annual SA Innovation Summit to be held in September.

Four female entrepreneurs have won the Namibian round of the FemBioBiz Phase 2 competition, and will go on to compete at the South African Innovation Summit from 12-14 September in Cape Town. FemBioBiz is an acceleration programme and competition run by NEPAD SANBio through the Finnish-Southern African Partnership Programme BioFISA II, in partnership with regional partner organisations.

The second phase of FemBioBiz Season 2 has concluded for Malawi, home to a population of 18 million of which half sustains itself on agriculture. The country faces challenges in improving healthcare, creating employment and expanding its economy amongst others. Malawian female entrepreneurs however have the potential and vigour to play a central role in addressing these problems.