Financing Women Entrepreneurs in Green Sectors
Investment-readiness support and the right financing ensure women entrepreneurs are able to accelerate their growth and later access formal financial products
A challenging context for many women entrepreneurs
Across Africa, small businesses—most of them informal—power local economies but face a financing gap of more than €15 billion. Caught between often costly and limited microfinance options and commercial banks that require collateral and formal financial histories, they struggle to grow and formalize. Women entrepreneurs face even steeper barriers, including limited asset ownership, weaker networks, gender bias, and heavier caregiving responsibilities. As a result, they receive less than 10% of commercial loans, with even fewer opportunities for equity investment. These challenges are particularly acute for green and innovative businesses, which are essential for climate resilience yet often perceived as too risky by traditional lenders.
How IYBA WE4A unlocks access to finance for women entrepreneurs
IYBA WE4A is reshaping how women entrepreneurs across Africa access the capital they need to grow. To close the financing gap, IYBA WE4A partners with leading financial actors to design and test inclusive financing models that work in real markets and pave the way for more fit-for-purpose financing solutions and investment opportunities.
Through three strategic partnerships—with Goodwell Investments, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) and Melanin Kapital—IYBA WE4A offers women entrepreneurs a mix of technical assistance, concessional loans, loan guarantees, and investment readiness support. Providing direct access to appropriate financial products and services enables women-led enterprises to access the capital they need to grow. Through these measures, financial institutions strengthen their practices, explore new client segments, and adopt more inclusive lending models.
By combining catalytic development finance with evidence-based market innovation, IYBA WE4A aims to demonstrate that financing women-led enterprises is not only impactful—it’s commercially viable. This approach helps shift financial market norms, reduces perceived risks, and opens the door for more private capital to reach the women leading Africa’s green and inclusive economy.
IYBA WE4A’s strategic financing partnerships
Three strategic access to finance partnerships form the backbone of our approach.
Goodwell Investments
Provide tailored technical assistance, concessional loans, and bank guarantees for women-led and green businesses in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P)
Offer investment readiness training and zero-interest and collateralised loans through local funds in Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, and Uganda.
I&P Acceleration WE4A
Melanin Kapital
Provide concessional working capital loans across all eight implementation countries to both livelihood-oriented and high-growth enterprises.