Ecobank Reports 194% Increase In Lending To Women-led Businesses

Ecobank Group has reported a 194 per cent increase in lending to registered women-led businesses, extending $780 million in loans in 2025, up from $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 $42 billion financing gap, limiting their ability to scale, invest and grow.

Through its gender-focused initiatives, Ecobank stated that it 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.

“It 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 $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,” the bank said.

The Group chief executive officer of Ecobank, Jeremy Awori said women entrepreneurs despite being among powerful drivers of economic growth in Africa still face barriers to finance that limit their ability to scale.

“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 stated that it 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.