Project ÍMPAR launches virtual incubator for social entrepreneurship among young women in Africa

Last Friday (November 28th), Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) hosted the official launch of the ÍMPAR Online Center and its Virtual Incubator and Accelerator for Social Enterprises. The event, held in a hybrid format from the UEM Faculty of Law, marks the operational start of a transnational project aimed at empowering young women as promoters of the social economy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This project, co-financed by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme, has the central objective of creating a digital support ecosystem for young women between the ages of 18 and 30. Through this platform, tools, knowledge and specialized mentoring will be made available for the design and acceleration of businesses with a positive social impact. The name ÍMPAR stands for "Innovation to Empower Women as Promoters of the Sub-Saharan Social Economy".

At UEM, the Faculty of Law is the unit responsible for implementation, which will integrate the training of recent graduates with the operation of the virtual incubator. The launch event also served as a forum for sharing experiences, featuring testimonials from various institutions dedicated to social impact and youth socioeconomic development.

The strength of the initiative rests on a broad international partnership, which includes higher education institutions from Portugal, Spain, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and Angola. Partners include the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, the University of Almería, the Pedagogical University of Mozambique, the University of Cape Verde, and the Independent University of Angola, among others.

With the digital platforms now officially active, the training courses are scheduled to begin in February 2026. The ÍMPAR project thus represents a transnational commitment supported by the European Union, which aims to foster innovation and social transformation, building a more inclusive future through social entrepreneurship led by young women.