The AWIEF Awards is a flagship initiative of the Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), established to recognise and celebrate the remarkable achievements of female founders and business leaders across Africa.
Since 2017, the Awards have showcased and honoured exceptional women leaders who are building successful businesses, driving innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to Africa’s economic growth and sustainable development, while inspiring future generations and highlighting the vital role of women in Africa’s development.
To remain relevant and responsive to Africa’s evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem, this year the Awards categories have been refined to better reflect emerging trends, innovation, and impact. In addition to updating the existing categories, AWIEF has introduced the Male Ally Award to recognise male leaders whose actions and influence have contributed meaningfully to advancing women’s economic empowerment and leadership.
📅 The AWIEF Awards 2026 Ceremony & Gala Dinner takes place on 11 November 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, where the finalists and winners will be officially recognised and celebrated.
WOMAN TO WATCH AWARD
The Woman to Watch Award recognises a female leader under 35, or founder/leader of a venture under three years old, based in or primarily operating in Africa, who is already demonstrating strong early traction through revenue, pilots, partnerships, users, or beneficiaries.
Questions you will answer
✓ What problem are you addressing, and why is it particularly relevant in the African context?
✓ What measurable progress or traction have you achieved to date (e.g. revenue, users, jobs created or sustained, partnerships)?
✓ What leadership role do you personally play in driving this initiative?
✓ Where do you see your leadership or venture in the next 2–3 years?
TECH PIONEER AWARD
This award spotlights a female founder or senior leader with at least five years’ experience in technology or innovation, who is using tech, digital tools, data, or deep-tech solutions at the core of the business or initiative to tackle a clearly defined African challenge such as access, inclusion, efficiency, or scalability.
Questions to answer
✓ What technology or innovation is central to your solution?
✓ What African challenge does this technology address, and how is it uniquely suited to the context?
✓ What is your role in the development, deployment, or scaling of this technology?
✓ What evidence can you provide of adoption, scale, or effectiveness (e.g. users, clients, system performance)?
✓ How has your work advanced technology leadership or innovation ecosystems in Africa?
AGRI AWARD
Honouring outstanding women in agriculture, this Award celebrates female founders and leaders with 5+ years in agriculture, agri-processing, agri-tech, food systems, or value chains, who are transforming Africa’s food systems and value chains while advancing productivity, sustainability, food security, or farmer livelihoods.
Questions to answer
✓ Which part of the agricultural or food value chain do you operate in?
✓ How long have you been active in this sector, and in which regions?
✓ What measurable impact has your work had on farmers, productivity, income, or food systems?
✓ How do you address challenges such as climate resilience, access to markets, or inclusion of smallholders?
✓ What innovations or practices differentiate your work from others in the sector?
CREATIVE VISIONARY AWARD
The Creative Visionary Award recognises a female entrepreneur, creator, or leader with at least five years’ experience in the creative industries (such as fashion, design, media, film, music, art, architecture, digital content, or cultural industries) who is significantly shaping African narratives, culture, or creative economies.
Questions you will answer
✓ Which creative industry do you operate in, and what is your primary role?
✓ How does your work contribute to shaping African culture, storytelling, or creative expression?
✓ What tangible outcomes demonstrate your influence (e.g. audiences reached, revenue, jobs created or sustained, recognition)?
✓ How have you innovated within your creative field?
✓ How do you support or uplift other creatives, especially women or young talent?
IMPACT FOR GOOD AWARD
The Impact for Good Award honours a female founder or leader whose initiative has been active for at least three years in sustainability, climate, energy, social innovation, community development, health, or education, and can demonstrate measurable social and/or environmental impact well beyond intent or pilot stage.
Questions to answer
✓ What social or environmental challenge does your work address?
✓ How long has the initiative been operating, and in which communities or regions?
✓ What measurable outcomes or impact indicators can you share (e.g. emissions reduced, people reached, livelihoods improved)?
✓ How do you ensure accountability, inclusion, or community involvement in your work?
✓ What makes your impact sustainable over the long term?
MALE ALLY AWARD
The Male Ally Award honours a male leader, founder, executive, policymaker, or senior decision-maker with 10+ years of leadership who goes beyond words to actively break barriers for women in Africa, driving sustained, systemic change for women’s economic empowerment.
Questions to answer
✓ In what capacity do you currently hold leadership or decision-making power?
✓ What specific actions have you taken to advance women’s economic empowerment?
✓ Can you provide concrete examples of policies, programs, or outcomes resulting from your support?
✓ How have women directly benefited from your actions (e.g. leadership roles, funding, access, opportunities)?
✓ How do you hold yourself and your organization accountable for gender equity?
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a visionary, female leader with at least 25 years of leadership, entrepreneurship, or public service whose lifelong contribution has helped shape Africa’s economic, social, or institutional development and paved the way for future generations of women trailblazers.
🏆 No nominations required. Each year, AWIEF identifies and selects from across African regions the recipient for this special award.
Submission Deadline August 3, 2026 at 1:00 AM
