Unlocking Financing for Women Entrepreneurs in Africa
African women entrepreneurs in Africa are set to access up to USD 2 billion in funding through the AFAWA initiative, unlocking growth for their businesses.
Women-owned businesses across Africa are set to gain access to between USD 1.3 billion and USD 2 billion in loans, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) and the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative.
Under this initiative, AGF will be implementing the AFAWA’s Guarantee for Growth (G4G) program, which aims to mobilize up to USD 3 billion in financing for women entrepreneurs. By working with financial institutions, the program will help de-risk lending to women-led SMEs, making it easier for them to secure funding.
The G4G program is supported by the G7, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and focuses on three key areas:
✅ Increasing access to finance for women entrepreneurs.
✅ Providing technical assistance to financial institutions and business owners.
✅ Improving the regulatory environment for women-owned/led SMEs.
Beyond unlocking funds, the program is set to make a tangible impact—reaching an estimated 18,000 women-led businesses and creating 80,000 direct jobs.
With African women facing a USD 42 billion financing gap, this initiative represents a significant step toward bridging that divide. To bring sustainable change, it will require more than just funding—it demands regulatory reforms that make access to finance easier for women-led businesses.
For the full details on this partnership, read more here: https://rb.gy/nozqlg.
