Spiro, an electric mobility company, has partnered with Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) to help 5,000 African women establish businesses using electric motorcycles by 2030, starting with a pilot in Rwanda.
The Women in E-Mobility initiative aims to expand women’s access to income-generating opportunities in transport, delivery and logistics as African markets transition to electric vehicles.
The partners said on 28 October that 50 women had started training in Rwanda. The pilot aims to reach 500 participants before expanding to other countries where Spiro operates between 2027 and 2030.
Participants will receive training in road safety, financial management, digital tools and business operations. The programme will also provide access to Spiro electric motorcycles through a lease-to-own arrangement, alongside battery-swapping infrastructure.
After training, participants will be connected with ride-hailing, delivery and logistics platforms to help them secure customers and generate income.
Spiro CEO Anant Badjatya said the initiative was designed to increase women’s participation in Africa’s emerging electric mobility market and support a new generation of entrepreneurs.
ESP CEO Eric Kacou said access to motorcycles alone would not guarantee viable businesses, highlighting the importance of financing, commercial opportunities, business skills and ongoing support.
The Rwanda pilot will assess participants’ progress, earnings and business performance before the programme expands to other markets.
The partners plan to seek funding from development finance institutions, impact investors, governments and commercial organisations to support the wider rollout.
The programme’s success will depend partly on participants’ ability to secure affordable financing, consistent customer demand and adequate access to charging or battery-swapping infrastructure.
While the initiative could expand women’s participation in commercial transport, its planned continental rollout will require evidence that the model can generate sustainable earnings beyond the pilot.
The partners have not disclosed the programme’s total funding or detailed implementation timelines for individual markets.
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