With 94% of the women beneficiaries of this initiative saying they will recommend this to others, SteamPact Foundation is empowering women for long-term sustainability in the agribusiness career sector by providing training in sustainable agriculture, leadership, and financial management.
EmpowerHER Initiative
Our Why - Empowering Women, Building Scalable Businesses
Across Africa, countless women remain on the margins of economic opportunity, held back by generational social and structural barriers. However, the caveat is that research shows that educating women has a significant impact, often resulting in lasting, multigenerational effects. The EmpowerHER Initiative is designed to enable this narrative by equipping women with the tools, training, and confidence to take charge of their own development through agribusiness.
Through our model, EmpowerHER delivers education that brings practical, life-changing knowledge directly to the women who need it most. This is done through community-based workshops, which offer training in:
Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Our program trains women on the key practices that make farming sustainable, from selecting the right crops to the most tenable cultivation methods. Africa has great potential to be a global powerhouse in agriculture, but one of its biggest challenges is the lack of knowledge about optimal farming practices that can scale from self-sufficiency to profitable international export. The EmpowerHer Initiative sows the seed of education that will be passed down and expanded upon by women and their communities for decades to come.
Leadership Development
Growth in any field requires the right leadership to achieve success. We empower African women to be the leaders of their own development. Members gain access to valuable training on leadership in the running of their co-op, decision-making, and resource management as their farming initiatives thrive.
Financial Management.
Financial freedom is essential to women in Africa who depend on their success in agribusiness to provide for their families and thrive in their communities. The EmpowerHer Initiative educates women on key principles of money management that can be applied to sustaining growth once it starts.
EmpowerHER 2024
In December 2024, the EmpowerHer Initiative held its inaugural Agriculture and Leadership Seminars in the rural region of Quibala, Kwanza-Sul Province, Angola. We supported women farmers—many of whom are illiterate and had never previously accessed training— with a two-day seminar that combined hands-on agricultural instruction with community-centered leadership development.
The Numbers
74% committed to applying the knowledge gained in farming or community contexts.
91% requested additional training opportunities.
88% felt safe and comfortable sharing in the workshop environment.
70% of participants redefined their understanding of leadership, moving from formal roles to community-centered concepts.
Over 80% reported gaining relevant and useful knowledge.
Impact
Action
The workshops covered the meaning of leadership in a rural and community-based context, the development of communication skills, and the importance of teamwork.
They also introduced practical techniques in sustainable farming, including the use of natural fertilizers and pest management strategies.
Outcome
Post-event feedback showed strong shifts in participant perspectives, indicating both cognitive and behavioral change. The event not only delivered knowledge to the participants but also empowered them to recognize their own potential. Women realized that leadership can start at home, in the church, and in farming groups—not only in political spaces.
Beyond technical skills, the program planted the intention to act, share, and lead. Each woman received tools such as hoes and machetes, symbolizing not only practical training but also a commitment to transforming and applying the knowledge gained into concrete action in the field.
The Future
This marks a foundational step toward long-term change. The high levels of engagement, knowledge retention, and desire for continuity confirm the program’s relevance and replicability.
This initiative planted ideas and ignited confidence and purpose in the rural women, inspiring them to transform their communities from the ground up.
“Before, I didn’t know what leadership was. Now I’ve learned it’s not about giving orders—it’s about helping, walking together, and being an example.”
— Ilda Paienda, 69
Join The Movement
EmpowerHer is an intensive initiative to enable African women to build agribusinesses. Together, we can build a future where every African woman has the tools to lead, grow, and thrive.