IFC has announced a $60m investment in a regional risk-sharing facility to support Bank of Africa Group’s lending to small and medium enterprises in eight African countries, facilitating growth and job creation in the region. 

IFC’s investment will cover as much as 50% of the risk on up to $120m equivalent in loans to local SME’s in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo. 

Half the facility is earmarked for women-run businesses, and for climate-related improvements, such as energy efficient equipment upgrades, small solar or biomass systems, and climate-smart agricultural supply chains.

Oumar Seydi, IFC Regional Director for Africa, said: “Expanding SME financing, especially in markets where risks are higher, is an important pillar of IFC’s Africa strategy.” 

“This facility will allow BOA to extend over 5000 loans to underserved SME’s in the next five years. It could have a transformational impact in the participating countries, seven of which are low income, and five fragile or conflict-affected,” he said.

The investment was made possible with support from the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF), launched by IFC through its Banking on Women Program, and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women. 

Further support came from the Global SME Finance Facility, a blended-finance partnership among IFC, the UK Department for International Development, and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Cristina Shapiro, Head of 10,000 Women, said: “Goldman Sachs research shows that closing the credit gap for women-owned SMEs in emerging markets could push income per capita an average of 12 percent higher by 2030.” 

“Women entrepreneurs have real potential to impact Africa’s future growth. Through this partnership, we will help to build resilient, women-owned businesses, and enable women entrepreneurs to reach their full potential with the capital and support they need,” she said. 

SMEs are a prime source of growth, jobs and innovation, but can only succeed when they can access sufficient financing. 

In sub-Saharan Africa, where roughly 350 million new jobs will be needed in the next 20 years, they account for 30% to 60% of GDP, and 67% of jobs.   

The WEOF is a facility dedicated to expanding access to capital for 100,000 women entrepreneurs globally. 

IFC’s Banking on Women Program has committed 64 investments globally worth $1.71bn, and advised on 39 projects since its launch in 2010. 

Of these, the WEOF has supported about $1bn in commitments to financial institutions in 26 countries. 

IFC plays a significant role helping SMEs access financing. 

The Global SME Finance Facility is a key part of this strategy, helping financial institutions better meet the financial needs of SMEs. 

Since its creation in 2012, the Global SME Finance Facility has provided investment and advisory solutions to more than 130 projects in 32 countries, strengthening financial infrastructure in low-income markets. 

It has committed over $1bn in investments.