WEIDE Fund Announces $1.76M Grants for Women Entrepreneurs in Digital Trade

The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund has announced the first disbursement of US$1.76 million in grants to support 219 women-led enterprises in Nigeria, Mongolia and the Dominican Republic, marking a major step in expanding women's participation in digital trade.

The announcement was made on 6 March, ahead of International Women's Day, as part of the fund's broader effort to tackle barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing finance, digital tools and international markets.

The grants launch an innovative financing model that combines direct funding, technical assistance and access to global business networks to help women-owned businesses grow and compete in the digital economy.

"This is an exciting milestone that brings to life our aspirations to unlock the benefits of digital trade for more women," said World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. "We must ensure that women are not left behind but are fully included in this transformative opportunity."

Two Types of Grants for Business Growth

The funding will be delivered through two types of grants designed to support businesses at different stages of development.

Discovery Grants provide up to US$5,000 to early-stage micro and small enterprises exploring opportunities in digital trade.

Booster Grants provide up to US$30,000 for export-ready businesses seeking to expand operations, with the first tranche of US$15,000 disbursed during this initial phase.

The grants will support working capital, business coaching, e-commerce training and skills development, enabling entrepreneurs to strengthen their competitiveness in international markets.

Distribution Across Three Countries

The first round of funding will support businesses across three countries:

• Nigeria: 141 women-led enterprises (124 Discovery Grants, 17 Booster Grants)

• Mongolia: 45 women-led enterprises (19 Discovery Grants, 26 Booster Grants)

• Dominican Republic: 33 women-led enterprises (9 Discovery Grants, 24 Booster Grants)

The initial disbursement forms part of Phase I of the WEIDE Fund, which has allocated a total of US$3.76 million in grants.

A second round of funding in the second quarter of 2026 will extend support to 46 women-led businesses in Jordan and release the second portion of Booster Grants to beneficiaries in the three initial countries.

Tackling the Finance Gap for Women Entrepreneurs

According to International Trade Centre Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton, access to finance remains the biggest challenge faced by women entrepreneurs worldwide.

"These grants directly tackle the single greatest barrier women entrepreneurs face — access to finance," she said. "We look forward to hearing the stories of women using the grants to scale up in the digital economy."

Real Impact for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs participating in the programme say the support is already helping them grow their businesses.

Yluminada Ortega, CEO of Cacao Florencio Ortega in the Dominican Republic, said the combination of funding, training and networking opportunities has been transformative.

"The support from the WEIDE Fund has made a real difference for our company and for me as an entrepreneur," she said.

"With the funds we received, we will be able to invest in new equipment to strengthen our project and create a positive impact in our community."

Partnerships Driving Implementation

The WEIDE Fund is being implemented in partnership with national business support organizations, including:

• ProDominicana

• Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO)

• Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI)

• Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC)

These partners provide local support to ensure that the grants are combined with mentorship, training and access to business networks.

Expanding Women's Participation in Global Trade

Launched in 2024 by the WTO Secretariat and the International Trade Centre, the WEIDE Fund aims to help women entrepreneurs overcome barriers to digital trade and global markets.

The initiative is supported by the United Arab Emirates, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

By combining finance with capacity-building and market access opportunities, the programme seeks to enable women-led businesses to expand exports, adopt digital tools and compete internationally.