Lomé, Togo – March 11, 2026 – Ecobank Group has reported a remarkable 194% increase in lending to registered women-led businesses, extending US$780 million in loans in 2025, up from US$265 million in 2024, as its gender-focused initiatives continue to accelerate entrepreneurship and local economic growth across Africa.
The figures were released alongside the launch of the Ecobank Gender Programme Report, marking the bank’s commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment in celebration of International Women’s Day 2026.
Across Africa, women entrepreneurs play a critical role in driving economic activity by creating jobs, supporting families and strengthening local value chains. However, despite their strong entrepreneurial presence, women-led businesses on the continent still face an estimated US$42 billion financing gap, limiting their ability to expand, invest and scale their operations.
Through a combination of tailored financial products, training, mentoring and improved market access, Ecobank is working to bridge this gap and support the growth of sustainable women-led enterprises across the continent.
Expanding Access to Finance and Business Support
One of the bank’s flagship initiatives is Ellevate, a gender-focused banking programme launched in November 2020 to support women entrepreneurs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since its launch, Ellevate has grown into one of the most geographically expansive women’s banking initiatives in Africa, supporting more than 103,000 registered women entrepreneurs across the continent.
Following its expansion across 26 countries in West, Central, East and Southern Africa in 2025, the programme added 21,000 new women entrepreneurs to its ecosystem. Additionally, over 24,000 women benefited from training, mentoring and other non-financial support services designed to strengthen business management and growth.
The programme also connects women entrepreneurs to broader trade opportunities through the Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub, enabling businesses to reach customers and partners across African markets and expand beyond their domestic borders.
Supporting Informal Sector Entrepreneurs
Recognising the importance of grassroots entrepreneurship, Ecobank is also supporting women operating in the informal economy through its MAMA programme, launched in Ghana in 2024.
The initiative provides subsidised credit, tailored savings solutions and practical business guidance to women running small and informal businesses.
Many of these entrepreneurs generate steady daily cash flows but remain excluded from traditional banking due to limited documentation or lack of collateral. By helping them build financial records and gradually formalise their businesses, the programme enables these entrepreneurs to transition into the formal economy and access larger financing opportunities.
Now entering its second year, the programme has enrolled more than 10,000 women operating in the informal sector, while over 2,000 women have received subsidised credit facilities totalling more than US$1.8 million.
Mobilising Capital to Close the Gender Financing Gap
Ecobank is also mobilising innovative financing tools to increase access to capital for women entrepreneurs.
In March 2025, Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire launched the first Gender Bond in the WAEMU region and only the second of its kind in Africa, raising more than XOF 11 billion (approximately US$18.2 million) within 48 hours, surpassing its initial fundraising target.
The proceeds from the bond are expected to finance nearly 1,200 additional loans to women-owned SMEs, further strengthening access to capital for women-led enterprises across West Africa.
Leadership Perspective
According to Jeremy Awori, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group, women entrepreneurs remain one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth across the continent.
“Women entrepreneurs are among the most powerful drivers of local economic growth across Africa, yet many still face barriers to finance that limit their ability to scale. At Ecobank, we are working to close this gap by combining capital, capability building and market access through our pan-African platform,” he said.
Awori added that the strong growth in lending reflects both growing demand from women entrepreneurs and the impact of targeted initiatives such as Ellevate and the Gender Bond, which are designed to mobilise capital specifically for women-led businesses.
Looking Ahead
Going forward, Ecobank plans to scale the enhanced Ellevate programme across all its markets, deepen non-financial support such as digital tools and business formalisation pathways, strengthen partnerships with development finance institutions and impact investors, and introduce new financial products tailored specifically for women entrepreneurs.
With operations spanning 34 sub-Saharan African countries, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated continues to leverage its pan-African platform to expand financial inclusion, support entrepreneurship and drive sustainable economic growth across the continent.
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