Ecobank Group expands its gender-financing offer to facilitate access for Africa’s women entrepreneurs

Ecobank has significantly enhanced its award-winning “Ellevate by Ecobank” programme to bridge the gender financing gap and support Africa’s women entrepreneurs.

The expanded initiative now targets not only Commercial Banking customers but also Consumer and Corporate Banking clients, with corporate clients serving as mentors. CEO Jeremy Awori highlighted that since its inception, the programme has disbursed over $200 million in loans and offered vital networking and capacity-building opportunities.

This move aligns with the World Bank’s projection that closing Africa’s gender gap could add $2.5 trillion to the continent’s GDP by 2025.

Launching by the end of March 2025 in nine affiliates, the enhanced Ellevate offers unsecured loans up to $50,000, competitive rates, and comprehensive financial and non-financial services, marking a new era in gender financing.