To mark yesterday’s International Women’s Day (IWD), the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, announced plans to disburse $ 1.76 million in grants before the end of Q1 2026 to benefit 219 women-led enterprises in Nigeria, the Dominican Republic and Mongolia.

Spearheaded by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the first disbursement sets in motion the innovative design of the WEIDE Fund, which introduces a new model of grant financing supported by technical assistance and exposure to a multistakeholder ecosystem for enterprises.

A total of 152 “Discovery Grants” and the first tranche of 67 “Booster Grants” will provide women entrepreneurs with working capital, business coaching, e-commerce training and other skills. Discovery Grants provide up to $5,000 to early-stage micro and small businesses exploring digital trade opportunities, while the first tranche of Booster Grants will provide $15,000 of the total sum worth up to $30,000 to each of the export-ready enterprises seeking to scale up their activities.

The first round of funding is being allocated as follows: 141 Nigerian women-led businesses are getting 124 discovery and 17 booster grants; 45 Mongolian women-led businesses get 19 discovery and 26 booster grants while 33 women-led businesses in The Dominican Republic get nine Discovery Grants and 24 Booster Grants.

WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said: “This is an exciting milestone that brings to life our aspirations to unlock the benefits of digital trade for more women. We must ensure that women are not left behind but are fully included in this transformative opportunity.”

Speaking, International Trade Centre Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, said: “These grants directly tackle the single greatest barrier women entrepreneurs face which is access to finance. We look forward to hearing the stories of women using the grants to scale up in the digital economy.”

A beneficiary from the Dominican Republic, Yluminada Ortega, CEO of Cacao Florencio Ortega said: “The support from the WEIDE Fund has made a real difference for our company and for me as an entrepreneur. The trainings have helped us grow and improve our work, and connecting with other women pursuing their dreams has been invaluable and inspiring. With the funds we received, we will be able to invest in new equipment to strengthen our project and create a positive impact in our community.”

This first disbursement forms part of Phase I, under which a total grants package of $3.76 million has been allocated. A second round of disbursements will take place in the second quarter to include 46 women-led businesses in Jordan who will get 23 discovery and 23 booster grants respectively and to release the second part of the booster grants to the beneficiaries in the Dominican Republic, Nigeria and Mongolia.

The implementation of the WEIDE Fund in the four countries is in partnership with four business support organisations including ProDominicana, the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO), the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

The DG added that the disbursements represent tangible support for women entrepreneurs, translating the WEIDE Fund’s commitments to economic empowerment into concrete action.

The grants complement ongoing technical assistance, mentorship and access to international business networks, helping women entrepreneurs strengthen their digital, managerial and export capabilities. She further noted that the combined package is designed to enhance competitiveness and enable women-led businesses expand in international markets through digital trade.

Launched in 2024 by the WTO Secretariat and the International Trade Centre, the WEIDE Fund addresses persistent barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing finance, digital tools and global trade opportunities. The WEIDE Fund is supported by the United Arab Emirates, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022T Legacy Fund and the Kingdom of Bahrain.