Grace Mwaura

Pioneered women's education and entrepreneurship in Africa through digital platforms

Grace Mwaura (b. 1967) is a Kenyan tech entrepreneur and social activist who co-founded African Women's Development Fund in 1993. Her groundbreaking work in creating the continent's first women-focused digital network transformed access to education and business opportunities for millions of African women. Through her initiatives, over 500,000 women have gained financial literacy training and access to microloans via her Tech4Africa platform. Mwaura's development of the first pan-African women's online marketplace in 2001 connected rural artisans to global buyers, creating sustainable income streams. Her advocacy led to Kenya's 2003 Digital Inclusion Act, mandating internet access in all primary schools. Mwaura's work has been featured in The Economist and Africa Business Magazine, and she received the UNESCO Women in Science Award (2015). Her current efforts focus on AI-driven education tools for girls in conflict zones through her nonprofit Edusafe Africa.