The U.S. Mission to South Africa and the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) are partnering to implement the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini. This initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender, Equity and Equality. Implemented in nearly 100 countries since 2019, the program has enabled about 25,000 women entrepreneurs to explore the fundamentals of business and learn new skills. Benefits include business management training, mentorship, networking, access to business opportunities, potential seed funding, and a global network.