UN Women in partnership with the Coca-Cola Company implemented the Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Project (EWEP) aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs by building their capabilities to run their businesses sustainably. The project was implemented within the context of UN Women's objective of endeavoring to economically empower women and Coca-Cola Company's initiative to economically empower 5 million women in 200 countries around the world by 2020. Through EWEP, the tripartite partnership (HiH, UN Women and Coca-Cola) sought to alleviate poverty through supporting and building the capacity of small retail businesses mainly owned by economically marginalised women with business management skills.

EWEP was implemented over three years (2013 - 2015) and covered seven provinces in South Africa namely North West, Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga benefitting a total of 23,166 women entrepreneurs. Project implementation strategies were designed to increase women's income, therefore, contributing towards job creation and poverty reduction. The ultimate goal was to contribute towards women's economic empowerment.