Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Call for nominations for the 2026 edition of the prestigious AWIEF award.
AWIEF Awards Established in 2017 to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of female founders and business leaders across Africa.
The awards showcase and honor extraordinary women leaders who are building successful businesses, driving innovation, creating jobs and contributing to Africa's economic growth, as well as inspiring future generations and highlighting the vital role women play 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 existing categories, AWIEF The Mel Alley Award has been established to recognize male leaders whose actions and influence have made a meaningful contribution to advancing women's economic empowerment and leadership.
A's winnerWIEF Awards 2026 The announcement will be made at a high-profile awards ceremony and gala dinner on 11 November 2026, which will mark the grand finale of the AWIEF 2026 conference to be held on 10 and 11 November 2026. Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC)Cape Town, South Africa.
Award Categories
Woman to Watch Award
The Women to Watch Award recognizes a female leader under the age of 35, or a founder/leader of an enterprise less than three years old, based or primarily operating in Africa, that is already demonstrating strong early traction through revenues, pilots, partnerships, users or beneficiaries.
Tech Pioneer Award
The award highlights a female founder or senior leader with at least five years of experience in technology or innovation who is using technology, digital tools, data or deep-tech solutions at the core of a business or initiative to tackle a clearly defined African challenge such as access, inclusion, efficiency or scalability.
agriculture award
Honoring outstanding women in agriculture, the awards celebrate female founders and leaders with 5+ years in agriculture, agro-processing, agri-tech, food systems or value chains who are transforming Africa's food systems and value chains by advancing productivity, sustainability, food security or farmer livelihoods.
Creative Visionary Award
The Creative Visionary Award recognizes a female entrepreneur, creator, or leader with at least five years of experience in 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.
effect for good reward
The Impact for Good Award honors a female founder or leader whose initiative has been active in sustainability, climate, energy, social innovation, community development, health or education for at least three years, and can demonstrate measurable social and/or environmental impact beyond the intent or pilot stage.
Men's Ally Award
The Male Ally Award honors a male leader, founder, executive, policy maker, or senior decision-maker with 10+ years of leadership who goes beyond words to actively break down barriers for women in Africa, driving sustained, systemic change for women's economic empowerment.
lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors a visionary, female leader with at least 25 years of leadership, entrepreneurship or public service, whose lifelong contributions have helped shape Africa's economic, social or institutional development and paved the way for future generations of female trailblazers.
No nomination is required for this category. every year AWIEF Recognizes and selects recipients from across African regions for this special award.
How to enroll
You can nominate yourself or someone else. To submit a nomination please visit: https://awief.untap.us/awief-awards-2026
Nominations close on 3 August 2026 at 11:59pm CAT.
important dates
- Nomination Start: 30 June 2026
- Nominations close: 3 August 2026
- Announcement of finalists: September 2026
- AWIEF 2026 Conference and Awards Gala Dinner: 10 – 11 November 2026
BellaNaija is AWIEF's media partner