Sandton: Standard Bank has announced a significant investment of $10 million into the African Women Impact Fund (AWIF), a move welcomed by Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga. This initiative aims to bolster women fund managers operating businesses across Africa. According to South African Government News Agency, the AWIF is a public-private partnership designed to enhance Africa's social and economic transformation by empowering women. It aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly focusing on gender equality and economic growth. These efforts aim to bridge the $42 billion funding gap faced by women entrepreneurs on the continent. At the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) Women to Africa event, held in collaboration with Standard Bank and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities at the Inanda Club in Sandton, Standard Bank's commitment was unveiled. The bank's Chief Exec utive of Corporate and Investment Banking, Luvuyo Masinda, emphasized the bank's role in driving sustainable growth by mobilizing capital for women-owned businesses and enhancing their decision-making power. The IFC report, "Gender and Investing: Women Fund Managers and Capital Allocation Trends," indicates that female fund managers are twice as likely to invest in women-led businesses, potentially accelerating financial inclusion for women. AWIF serves as a scalable platform to empower women fund managers and invest in women-owned enterprises through market-based approaches. Lindeka Dzedze, Standard Bank's Executive Head of Strategic Partnerships Global Markets and Chair of AWIF, highlighted the necessity of gender-focused investing to ensure women's representation in decision-making roles within investment management. The AWIF's strategy seeks to expedite women's empowerment and address multi-sectoral disparities. By developing small managers often overlooked by larger institutions, the fund aims to crea te a multiplier effect that can drive macro-level economic transformations. The G20 Women to Africa event provided a platform for strategic dialogue on gender equality and financial inclusion, calling for commitments and partnerships from diverse stakeholders across public, private, and civil society sectors.