What is the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs?

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is an initiative from the United States government to support and empower women entrepreneurs around the world. AWE gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks, and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses and harnesses the power of public-private sponsors, local partnerships, and U.S. Exchange Alumni networks to help women and their businesses grow.

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‘Academy for Women Entrepreneurs’ launched

by Mom Kunthea
September 10, 2024

Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul (right) and Charge d’Affaires Bridgette L. Walker, US Embassy Phnom Penh, preside over the launch of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Phnom Penh, on Tuesday. Heng Chivoan photo

The US Embassy in Phnom Penh, University of Cambodia and Impact Hub Tuesday officially launched the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Phnom Penh.

AWE aims to empower women in business through a business-focused curriculum, mentorship and network building.

Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul and Charge d’Affaires Bridgette L. Walker, US Embassy Phnom Penh, presided over the launch of AWE, featuring the 30 inaugural AWE participants from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in diverse fields ranging from hospitality to sustainable energy.

AWE is an initiative of the US government that provides enterprising women the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses and harnesses the power of public-private sponsors, local partnerships and US Exchange Alumni networks to help women and their businesses grow.

“I am proud to say that the US has been at the forefront of the policy discussion on empowering women for years,” said Walker at the opening ceremony.

“This year, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs will serve as our premier initiative for our #EmpowerNeary campaign, which celebrates and supports women achieving their full potential.”

AWE recognises the importance of uplifting and empowering women through economic development.

Walker went on to add that the Secretary of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues has a mandate to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls through US foreign policy.

“We know that when women are empowered economically, they invest in their families and communities, spurring economic growth, creating stability and creating conditions for everyone to thrive,” Walker said.

“AWE can be a life-changing program that we hope will help you, the inaugural cohort, to achieve your entrepreneurial dreams-we have an impressive cohort of entrepreneurs among us today-future business leaders in fashion, hospitality, agriculture, education, and retail.”

AWE has had an incredible impact worldwide: to date, it has reached over 25,000 women in over 100 countries, helping them level up their businesses and contribute to their communities and economies.

“We are excited to bring this empowering program to the Kingdom and can’t wait to see AWE’s impacts here,” Walker emphasised.

Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce (MoC), congratulated young women entrepreneurs on their successful completion of the 2024 AWE Training Program.

“I am optimistic that these young women entrepreneurs will discover their potential for business and innovation through comprehensive training, mentoring and through a strong network of communication between each other,” Nimul said.

She said that by cultivating the skills and providing the necessary support, the women entrepreneurs will make a significant contribution to the prosperity of the community.

According to the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) statistics for 2024, there are more than 8,000 women entrepreneurs among the total of 44,272 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women workforce is 141,000, equivalent to 30 percent of the total 470,000 workforces.

The minister said that women are the backbone of many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are crucial for job creation and economic diversification.

Since the establishment of the Cambodian Women Entrepreneur Association (CWEA), with the support of the World Bank and Ministry of Women Affairs in 2011, the association now has more than 2,000 members and 500 active members. CWEA has played an important role in promoting women’s participation in entrepreneurship.

“I encourage all 30 AWE participants to share their knowledge and experience with other women entrepreneurs and encourage CWEA to use this AWE training program to expand its network and establish new global business partnerships, especially in embracing digital transformation and adapting to the digital age through key nurseries such as DreamBuilder online training courses and so on,” Nimul underlined.

It should be noted that the applicants underwent nine months of participation in the program, which includes online learning, in-person events, an exhibition day and post-program support.

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10 September 2024

MeDha, Cambodia’s first all-women drumming troupe, welcomed the attendees at the September 10 launch of the US state department’s Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Cambodia. US embassy

The US embassy in Cambodia announced the formation of a new initiative aimed at empowering women in business through a business-focused curriculum, mentorship, and network building.

The Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Cambodia is funded by the US Department of State.

“I am proud to say that the US has been at the forefront of the policy discussion on empowering women for years,” said embassy chargé d’affaires Bridgette Walker, during the September 10 opening ceremony in Phnom Penh.

“This year, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs will serve as our premier initiative for our #EmpowerNeary campaign, which celebrates and supports women achieving their full potential,” she explained.

Walker and Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul presided over the launch, which featured 30 of the inaugural AWE participants from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

These impressive women are working in many diverse fields, including hospitality and sustainable energy.

US entrepreneurship expert Melinda Emerson delivered a keynote address to the participants, while Leslie Kiernan, general counsel of the US Department of Commerce, was featured in a video address.

Attendees were welcomed with a powerful performance by MeDha, Cambodia’s first all-women drumming troupe.

“AWE is an initiative of the US government which aims to gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses and harnesses the power of public-private sponsors, local partnerships and US Exchange Alumni networks to help women and their businesses grow,” according to the embassy.

Applicants commit to nine months of participation in the programme, which includes online learning, in-person events, an exhibition day and post-programme support.