Please join the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center on Thursday, May 16, for a conversation on women’s entrepreneurship and gendered barriers to raising capital in African markets. Panelists will discuss how to build on OPIC’s new 2X Women’s Initiative and improve access to capital for women entrepreneurs in Africa and beyond.  

A conversation with:

Mr. Jake Cusack

Managing Partner

CrossBoundary

Ms. Berhane Demissie

Managing Partner

Cepheus Growth Capital

Ms. Kathryn C. Kaufman

Managing Director for Global Women’s Issues 

 Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Moderated by:

 Ms. Aubrey Hruby

Senior Fellow, Africa Center

Atlantic Council

Welcome and Introduction by

Ms. Bronwyn Bruton

Director of Programs and Studies and Deputy Director, Africa Center

Atlantic Council

Event Recap

May 16, 2019

Investors and private equity experts on access to capital for women in African markets

By Africa Center

On Thursday, May 16, the Africa Center hosted a discussion on women’s entrepreneurship and gendered barriers to raising capital in African markets.

Africa Economy & Business

While Africa has some of the highest rates of female entrepreneurship in the world, there is a dearth of female leadership atop private equity and venture capital firms with funds on the continent, and women disproportionately face barriers to credit and capital that hinder the growth and survival of their businesses. To help address this disconnect, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) launched its global 2X Women’s Initiative in 2018 to mobilize over $1 billion for businesses and funds owned by women, managed by women, or providing a product or service that intentionally empowers women. In tandem with other G7 development finance institutions (DFIs), OPIC has also accepted the “2X Challenge,” which calls on these DFIs to collectively catalyze $3 billion by 2020 to economically empower women across the developing world.

VISITING THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL

Metro and Parking Information

Atlantic Council

1030 15th Street, NW, 12th Floor (West Tower Elevators)

Washington, DC 20005

This event is on-the-record and open to press.