The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund is one of the most ambitious global initiatives designed specifically to help women‑led businesses break into international markets through digital trade. It sits at the intersection of gender empowerment, technology, and global commerce — and it’s already reshaping how women entrepreneurs participate in the world economy.
What the WEIDE Fund Is
The WEIDE Fund is a USD 50 million global programme launched in 2024 by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). Its mission is simple but powerful: help women entrepreneurs use digital tools to grow, export, and compete globally.
It’s designed for women‑led micro, small, and medium‑sized enterprises (MSMEs) that often struggle to access finance, technology, training, and international markets.
What the Fund Provides
The WEIDE Fund unlocks opportunities for women by improving access to:
- Grants and financial support to reduce the funding gap
- Digital‑skills training to help women use e‑commerce tools effectively
- Export‑readiness programmes to boost competitiveness
- Global online marketplaces so women can sell beyond their borders
- Business networks and mentorship to strengthen long‑term growth
Each of these elements is designed to help women overcome the structural barriers that keep them out of global trade.
The Challenges Women Entrepreneurs Face
Women‑led businesses in developing economies often deal with:
- limited access to capital
- lower digital literacy
- exclusion from traditional business networks
- higher risks of corruption or harassment at borders
- fewer opportunities to join global value chains
The World Bank estimates that 70% of formal women‑owned businesses cannot access the financing they need, leaving a massive USD 300 billion gap.
Yet the potential is huge: Women‑led exporting firms earn 2.8× more than non‑exporting women‑led firms, and women who trade digitally can earn up to 3× more than those selling only domestically.
What the WEIDE Fund Aims to Achieve
The fund is designed to create measurable, long‑term impact. Expected outcomes include:
- More women participating in global value chains
- Higher adoption of digital tools and platforms
- Stronger competitiveness of women‑led MSMEs
- Better institutional support for women in trade
- More jobs created by women‑owned businesses
In short, the fund is not just about financial support — it’s about building a more inclusive digital economy.
Why It Matters
Digital trade is one of the fastest‑growing areas of the global economy. Without targeted support, women risk being left behind. The WEIDE Fund ensures they are not only included but positioned to lead.
The WEIDE Fund (Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund) is a global initiative, but only a few countries have officially contributed or hosted application windows so far. The fund is still expanding, so the list will continue to grow.
Countries Currently Involved in the WEIDE Fund
- Countries that have contributed funding
These governments or institutions have officially provided financial support:
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar (via the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Legacy Fund)
- Bahrain
- Other partners include private‑sector and institutional contributors working with the WTO and ITC.
- Countries where WEIDE has opened application windows
These are the first countries where women entrepreneurs could apply for WEIDE support:
- Dominican Republic
- Mongolia
- Nigeria
- Jordan
These pilot locations were chosen to test the programme across different regions and development levels.
Who Can Benefit?
Even though only a few countries have contributed or hosted applications so far, the WEIDE Fund is global. Women‑led MSMEs from any WTO member country may eventually benefit as the programme expands.
Source: WTO