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KAMPALA - MTN has identified 118 highly skilled women entrepreneurs as part of its initiative to enhance gender diversity within its supplier network.

These women-led companies, from different sectors including Information Technology, network infrastructure, commercial services, professional consultancy, and facility management will get a chance to supply services or goods to the telecom firm. 

The initiative is under the company's Advancing Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) accelerator program, launched last year. Speaking during the function held at MTN headquarters in Kampala, Sylvia Mulinge, the CEO at MTN, said the selected women-led businesses demonstrated exceptional skills, passion, and determination.

“By choosing these women entrepreneurs as service providers to MTN, we are not just investing in their businesses; we are investing in the future of Uganda. We believe that by empowering women economically, we create a ripple effect that benefits families, communities, and ultimately, our nation's prosperity," she said.

“But as we get excited about the opportunity, you have to invest in yourself. The reality is once you get the purchase order, MTN is not going to pay you upfront, you need to find money. You need to know that once you get the work, it’s not tokenism. You have to deliver the project. That is why we have partners to support you determine your capacity.”

The MTN AWE program works in partnership with organisations including DFCU Bank (Women in Business), private sector foundation Uganda (PSFU), National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Hi Innovators, ATC Uganda, UN Women, The Innovation Village, and MTN MoMo. MTN said it will ring-fence about sh15b in supplier contracts to women businesses.

Majority of the 118 women have limited liability companies. According to a training needs assessment conducted by MTN, many of these women highlighted a lack of visibility and networks as impediments to accessing supply opportunities for large companies. About 42% of the women possess engineering backgrounds and expressed interest in contributing to network services, while approximately 10% exhibit interest in digital product offerings.

The NSSF Hi Innovator will support the 118 businesses in areas such as access to patient capital to some of the businesses that are looking to address the gaps standing in the way of them becoming more competitive.

“Seeing big corporates ring-fence part of their budget for women entrepreneurs is very impressive. This speaks volumes of where we are headed as a country,” Richard Zulu, Lead Founder, at Outbox.

Paulina Chiwangu, UN Women Country Representative said women should be given the opportunity to work “to eliminate all forms of violence against us” against them.

Dr. Aisha Kasolo, project director of the GROW Project, a World Bank-supported initiative worth $217m aimed at advancing women's economic prospects, urged women to strive for excellence in their pursuits.

“They are so many things affecting women to be given the large contracts in companies. I am glad that some of the courses are going to give women confidence,” she said.