Acumen Academy Gender Equity and Advancement Accelerator 2o23 for Social Entrepreneurs

Acumen Academy Gender Equity and Advancement Accelerator 2o23 for Social Entrepreneurs. Apply below.

When is Application Deadline?

4th April 2023

What are the program dates?

June 13th, 2023 – Program start 

September 1st, 2023 – Program finish 

Tell Me About Award:

This program is designed for enterprises with demonstrated market traction and a team equivalent to at least three full-time staff members. During this 12-week program, you will learn the essentials for building a scalable business model that achieves both profitability and impact. Working alongside your close-knit cohort of entrepreneurial peers and Acumen experts, you’ll develop your leadership and business skills as you design your plan to embed gender equity as you scale. 

As a participant, you’ll gain access to industry-specific case studies, video tutorials and practical readings, and receive invaluable one-on-one support and guidance from our team. Each week, you’ll complete assignments designed to help you think critically about your business model and introduce you to gender-inclusive best practices. During the leadership sessions, you’ll be challenged to redefine success and develop the moral imagination to create a society centered on dignity — then employ your new leadership and business skills to make it a reality.

Acumen Academy is the world’s school for social change. Our mission is to unleash a new generation of social innovators and leaders with the character and competence to build a more just, inclusive and sustainable world. Blending the best of online and offline learning, we offer anyone, anywhere access to the practical tools, practices, resources and supportive community they need to achieve positive social change. The Acumen Academy community represents a new generation of social innovators and leaders committed to doing what’s right in a world that loves easy.

Type:

Entrepreneurship

What Countries are Eligible?

East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia) or West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Gambia)

Where will Award Take Place?

This is designed as a mostly-online program with the possibility of one multi-day workshop in-person; however, the scheduling of this is dependent on the chosen cohort’s availability to travel. The weekly Learning Labs will be hosted virtually on the Zoom platform. You must have a stable internet connection and the ability to participate in these weekly video calls reliably. You will be asked about your availability and ability to travel to an in-person workshop in the application form, and the responses will influence the final program design. We’ll communicate our final decision on hosting an in-person session with those shortlisted to interview. 

Who is Eligible?

This accelerator is open to social entrepreneurs who:

• Have a team of three or more full-time staff
• Run an established social enterprise (nonprofit or for-profit) based in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia) or West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Gambia) who are working to solve problems of poverty and dignity
• Are ready to scale their venture and are dedicated to investing in their personal and professional growth
• Are deeply committed to the work of tackling poverty and injustice and are interested in being part of a global community bound by values 
• Have an enterprise that has been operational for 18 months or more, with evidence of increasing customer numbers and preparation to scale
• Have a commitment to serving women across three entry points, and evidence of action in at least one:
  • Market (products and services)
  • Internal organization (workforce and policies)
  • Value chain (supply and distribution)

How many Awards?

Not specified

What is Value of Award?

• Facilitated virtual Learning Labs for peer learning and discussion
• Leadership lessons such as Listening to Voices Unheard and Partnering with Humility and Audacity
• One-on-one consultation calls with Acumen’s team
• Video tutorials on customer discovery, sales and marketing, financial modeling, pitching, and more
• Unconscious bias training, workshops, and self-assessment strategies for embedding gender inclusivity into your scaling plan
• Case studies from social enterprises that have successfully scaled and contributed to gender equity and advancement

How to Apply?

Apply now

GOODLUCK!

Visit Application Webpage for Details