ABS Roundtable Series

ABS ROUNDTABLE SERIES, UNGA EDITION 

As the world gathers for the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Africa’s most urgent economic challenge is in sharp focus: the $42 billion financing gap faced by women entrepreneurs. Closing this gap is no longer just a matter of equity — it is central to unlocking Africa’s full economic potential and positioning the continent as a driver of inclusive global growth.

To help shape this conversation, African Business Stories (ABS) will host the one-year anniversary edition of the ABS Roundtable Series under the theme: “Bridging the Gap – From Commitments to Capital.” Since its launch during UNGA 2024, the Roundtable has become a powerful platform for action — mobilizing capital, influencing policy, and connecting women founders with strategic partners across Africa and the diaspora.

This year’s convening will bring together leaders from government, multilateral finance, and the private sector to spotlight what’s working: innovative financing mechanisms, policy reforms, and public–private partnerships that are already shifting capital toward women-led businesses at scale. The event will also showcase the real impact of capital through the voices of African female founders who are driving measurable growth on the ground.

Key Focus Areas

The 2025 edition will explore how stakeholders can move from diagnosis to delivery, with conversations anchored around:

  1. Policy to Capital Flow – How national strategies and gender-responsive reforms are unlocking access to finance for women entrepreneurs.
  2. Public–Private Partnerships – Mobilizing multilateral institutions, government ministries, and private investors to co-create scalable funding models.
  3. Entrepreneurial Impact – Demonstrating tangible outcomes from women-led enterprises when capital, policy, and ecosystem support align.
  4. The Road Ahead – Charting a forward-looking agenda that builds on successful models and aligns stakeholders around measurable commitments.