This image emphasizes the rich and diverse plant ecosystems in Burkina Faso and Mali, gaining scientific recognition.
African gender-lens investment funds are facing a major funding crunch as US institutional backers retreat in response to President Trump’s executive orders banning DEI programs and gender-focused policy language. This political shift has cooled enthusiasm for women-led ventures, despite their historically low access to capital—less than 5% of VC funding in the past decade. Experts warn this could severely undercut progress, with the US’s influence over development finance now glaringly apparent. Still, some investors remain hopeful, predicting funding will persist under more neutral language like “overlooked sectors.” Meanwhile, firms like Nigeria’s Aruwa Capital see opportunity in the vacuum, continuing to back women entrepreneurs with an eye on strong returns in underfunded markets.