The banks of the Ébrié Lagoon provided the setting on Wednesday for the official launch of the 7th edition of the International Women’s Leadership Forum (FILF).
Held under the theme “Women Building Economies”, the major event, initiated by the SEPHIS Foundation, will take place from December 10 to 11, 2026, in Abidjan, bringing together an impressive network of women entrepreneurs.
For this new edition of FILF, the SEPHIS Foundation is setting its ambitions higher. Sefora Kodjo, founder and general commissioner of FILF 2026, outlined her vision for a broader-reaching event.
“We want a forum of a different scale — one with a regional and pan-African dimension,” she said.
With the sponsorship and institutional support of Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Women, Family and Children, the FILF general commissioner is working to mobilise a continent-wide ecosystem dedicated to advancing women’s entrepreneurship.
Operating in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Togo, Ghana and Guinea, the foundation aims to make the forum a unique platform for sharing business opportunities, promoting financial inclusion and improving access to markets.
Each year, a budget of CFAF 20 million is allocated to equip women entrepreneurs, with individual grants ranging from CFAF 2 million to CFAF 10 million or more, significantly enhancing their production and processing capacities.
According to Sefora Kodjo, previous editions of the forum have enabled the distribution of CFAF 60 million worth of equipment. Beyond industrial tools, the forum provides entrepreneurs with essential networking opportunities involving business leaders and investors.
The SEPHIS Foundation has supported the growth of more than 5,000 women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the sub-region. This year, the focus is on assisting 1,000 women entrepreneurs in the processing sector, with the goal of creating 12,000 new jobs in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.
Beneficiaries are carefully selected based on the growth potential of their businesses. Through strong partnerships with banks and microfinance institutions, SEPHIS has so far secured a cumulative CFAF 3 billion in loans for women entrepreneurs.
The International Women’s Leadership Forum is backed by several key strategic partners, including Invest for Job, banking institutions, and, this year, Proparco and the African Guarantee Fund.
Sadio Dicko, Proparco’s Regional Director for West Africa, recalled that his institution supports women’s entrepreneurship through investment funds and banking partners, while emphasizing the importance of corporate governance. He cited the success of clothing brand Verni Rouge as an example.
At the national level, Minister of Women, Family and Children Nassénéba Touré, who officially opened the forum via videoconference, reaffirmed that women’s empowerment remains a government priority.
Nassénéba Touré noted that more than 800,000 female entrepreneurs and trainees receive training every year through public incubation structures, helping them gain access to equipment and financing across the country.
FILF 2026 will also showcase promising local transformation projects. Véronique Vonan, founder of “Placali abouré” and a member of the new cohort, is a prime example. She will receive support to export placali flour and concentrated seed-based sauce, while also developing the marketing of bandji (palm wine) in canned form.
In addition to experience-sharing sessions, high-level panels, including a ministerial panel, will address key issues shaping Africa’s competitiveness, such as artificial intelligence, environmental challenges, industrial transformation processes and security.
AP/Sf/lb/as/APA