Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group, today reported a 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 accelerate entrepreneurship and local economic growth across Africa.
This was revealed through the launch of the Ecobank Gender Programme Report, in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026.
Women entrepreneurs play a vital role in Africa’s economies, creating jobs, supporting families and strengthening local value chains.
Yet despite high levels of entrepreneurship, women-led businesses across the continent continue to face a US$42 billion financing gap, limiting their ability to scale, invest and grow.
Through its gender-focused initiatives, the bank is working to close this gap by combining tailored financial products with training, mentoring and improved access to regional markets, enabling women entrepreneurs grow sustainable businesses.
Expanding access to finance, business support and continental opportunities
Initially launched in November 2020 to support women-led businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis, Ecobank’s Ellevate programme has grown into the most geographically expansive women’s banking initiative on the continent, supporting over 103,000 registered women entrepreneurs across Africa.
Following its expansion across 26 countries in West, Central, East and Southern Africa in 2025, the programme saw an additional 21,000 women entrepreneurs enrolled into the ecosystem while more than 24,000 women received training, mentoring or other non-financial support.
The programme also connects women-led businesses to continental trade opportunities through the Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub, enabling entrepreneurs to reach customers and partners across African markets and expand beyond their home countries.
Supporting grassroots entrepreneurs and informal businesses
Ecobank is also extending support to women entrepreneurs operating in the informal economy.
Through the MAMA programme, launched in Ghana in 2024, the bank provides subsidised credit, tailored savings solutions and practical business guidance to women running small and informal businesses.
Many of these entrepreneurs generate strong daily cash flows but remain excluded from traditional financing due to limited documentation or collateral.
By supporting gradual business formalisation and financial record-building, the programme enables women to transition into the formal economy and gain access to larger financing opportunities over time.
Entering its second year, the initiative has enrolled over 10,000 women working in the informal sector, while more than 2,000 women have received subsidised credit facilities totalling over US$1.8 million.
Mobilising capital to close the gender financing gap
Ecobank is also mobilising new sources of capital to expand financing for women-led businesses.
In March 2025, Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire launched the first Gender Bond in the WAEMU region and only the second in Africa, raising over XOF 11 billion (approximately US$18.2 million) in just 48 hours, surpassing its initial target.
The proceeds from the bond will help finance nearly 1,200 additional loans to women-owned SMEs, strengthening access to capital for women entrepreneurs across West Africa.
Jeremy Awori, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank, said: “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.
The strong growth in lending to women-led businesses reflects both the demand from entrepreneurs and the impact of initiatives such as Ellevate and our Gender Bond, which help mobilise capital specifically to support women-led growth.”
Looking ahead, Ecobank plans to scale the enhanced Ellevate across all its markets; deepen non-financial support, including digital tools and business formalisation pathways; strengthen partnerships with development finance institutions and impact investors; and launch new financial products tailored specifically for women.
