The leading development finance institution in Africa, the African Development Bank (AfDB) works to improve the living conditions of African populations and mobilise resources for economic and social progress.
In September 2023, AFI and AfDB announced a four-year partnership aimed at supporting financial policymakers and regulators to increase access to finance for women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) in Africa, to be implemented through AfDB’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative. In 20 African countries, AFI and AFAWA are studying the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs when seeking access to finance, and supporting countries to design and implement policies which make it easier for women to access and use financial services.