Cameroon: USD 61.5 million to support SMEs run by women

A partnership between IFC and Afriland First Bank

On April 2, 2025, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a financing agreement with Afriland First Bank, for 36.4 billion FCFA (approximately USD 61.5 million), for SMEs owned or managed by women in Cameroon.

Of this amount, 12 billion FCFA came directly from the IFC, while 24 billion FCFA was mobilized from other donors.

Financing Terms

The funds will be provided in the form of senior unsecured loans, with a repayment period of up to five years, including a one-year grace period. This partnership specifically targets women-owned businesses that face barriers to accessing financing.

Eligibility criteria for SMEs

To benefit from this financing, SMEs must meet certain criteria:

• Be held at least 51% in power and value by one or more women, or be led/influenced by women on strategic and financial aspects.
• Or be 20% owned by women, with at least one woman holding an executive management position (e.g., CEO, COO, President).
• Have at least 30% female members on the board of directors or other decision-making body.
• Present a turnover equal to or less than 9 billion FCFA.

This threshold is three times higher than the national definition of an SME, set at 3 billion FCFA in turnover.

IFC’s ambitions in Cameroon

With an investment portfolio of approximately USD 277 million currently, the IFC aims to double this commitment within three years to reach 500 billion FCFA.

“Through this partnership with Afriland First Bank, we aim to bridge the financing gap for SMEs and empower entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs,” said Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director for Central and English-speaking West Africa.

Conclusion

This commitment marks an important step in strengthening women’s entrepreneurship in Cameroon. By financially supporting women-led SMEs, IFC and Afriland First Bank are working towards inclusive and sustainable economic development, providing new opportunities for growth and leadership for women entrepreneurs.