Five women, five countries, one stage in Doha: UNCTAD honours the builders

At the ninth World Investment Forum in Doha on 26 October, five entrepreneurs from five countries collected the 2026 Women in Business Awards, organised by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 52 nominees put forward by Empretec training centres. Sandra Letio of Uganda won for leadership — her Pelere Group agribusiness works with more than 5,000 smallholder farmers in shea and oilseeds. Argentina's Paula Gianserra won for sustainability, restoring forests with biotechnology, AI and drone seeding at Reforest Latam. Innovation honours went to Qatar's Aisha Albinali, whose Wafir app adapts a traditional savings practice for the phone, and Brazil's Adriana Fernandes, whose Mátrika makes food for people whose allergies sharply limit what they can safely eat. Twelve finalists reached Doha; the awards connect them with investors and buyers.

SDG 5 · Gender equality — Mechanism: institutional program