Small and medium-sized enterprises #SMEs are the backbone of Cameroon’s economy representing over 90% of businesses and contributing around 36% of GDP. Yet despite their central role, many still face steep barriers to accessing the financing they need to grow, innovate, and hire. To help change that, IFC - International Finance Corporation has signed a landmark financing agreement with Afriland First Bank Cameroon to expand lending to SMEs and build a more inclusive financial ecosystem. ✅IFC is committing up to $60 million (equivalent in euros), with $20 million from its own account and $40 million mobilized from partners. ✅Through the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (#WEOF), 30% of this financing will be directed to women-owned and led businesses a major step toward closing the gender finance gap. ✅IFC will also provide advisory support to strengthen Afriland’s SME lending strategy, enhance risk management, and tailor products to underserved segments. In #Cameroon, only 17% of women have access to formal financial services. This partnership is designed to shift that reality, transforming access to capital for women entrepreneurs and helping thousands of small businesses unlock their full potential. #SMEFinance #FinancialInclusion #AfrilandFirstBank IFC Africa Dahlia Khalifa
CEO at Fectivo
1wcompletely agree with your article on the importance of this segment. Additionally, I’d like to highlight another significant market segment that I have worked with over the past 15 years in LATAM, starting with my experience in Africa with mPesa. The financial inclusion B2B (business-to-business) market focuses on providing financial services and solutions to businesses that are often underserved or unbanked. This segment is crucial, as it has the potential to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enhance their operational capabilities, and foster economic growth. According to the IFC, the unbanked B2B market has a Total Addressable Market (TAM) value of $960 billion, which remains largely untapped and presents immense opportunities for financial inclusion. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to me whenever you’re available.