By Obinna Uballa
A new African Development Bank (AfDB) study has revealed that while almost one in four African women is an entrepreneur, a staggering 87 per cent of women entrepreneurs’ associations lack financial management capacity, limiting their potential economic impact.
The groundbreaking mapping exercise, unveiled on 6 August in Nouakchott, covered 16 African countries and highlighted other structural gaps.
Only 29 per cent of the associations have partnerships with financial institutions, while in Mauritania, 83 per cent rely primarily on membership fees — a model the report says is unsustainable without diversified funding sources.
The findings were presented at a workshop bringing together women entrepreneurs’ associations, civil society groups, public institutions, financial institutions, and development partners to review the data and chart a way forward.
“This workshop is a genuine space for exchange, co-creation, and forward-looking engagement. We are here to combine our expertise and chart the next steps to support women entrepreneurs’ associations across our continent, and in Mauritania in particular,” said Zeneb Touré, Manager of the AfDB’s Civil Society and Community Engagement Division.
Touré described Africa’s women entrepreneurs as “shaping the continent’s future” and urged stakeholders to use the study as a blueprint for inclusive growth.
The report also showcased success stories, including innovative models for capacity building and financing women-led micro and small businesses.
“These figures confirm our daily experience in the field. Our associations are brimming with potential, but they need structured support to multiply their impact,” noted Fatimetou Mint Sidi Mohamed O. Elvil, President of the Mauritanian Council of Women Entrepreneurs.
Lematt Mint Megueya, President of the Mauritanian Union of Women Entrepreneurs and Traders (UMAFEC), said the mapping was “of critical importance” as it provided a detailed picture of institutional capacity and specific needs.
The symbolic handover of the report to Mauritanian associations marked the start of a national collaborative effort to replicate best practices and forge strategic partnerships.
The initiative forms part of the AfDB’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme, launched in 2016 to close the estimated $42 billion financing gap for women entrepreneurs. To date, AFAWA has partnered with 185 financial institutions and channelled over $1.2 billion to women-led businesses.
Through its 2021–2025 Gender Strategy, the AfDB aims to make key sectors more accessible andv ensure equal access to resources, infrastructure, and services for both women and men.
