On the sidelines of the Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS), Orange Bank Africa (OBA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a partnership agreement aimed at strengthening the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire and the Senegal
“10,000 Women” or facilitating training in business management
This partnership is part of the global “10,000 Women” program, supported by Goldman Sachs and IFC, which facilitates access to business management training and financial solutions to support female entrepreneurs in emerging economies.
This new collaboration strengthens a relationship of trust established between Orange Bank Africa and IFC, marked by a first partnership in 2023 to support financial inclusion in the UEMOA region. This initiative will now allow efforts to be focused on the specific needs of women entrepreneurs in markets where Orange Bank Africa is strongly anchored.
Access to adapted innovative financing solutions
In a first phase, Orange Bank Africa will support beneficiaries through a structured training program in leadership and business management. This support aims to offer women entrepreneurs the skills necessary to structure, manage and develop their projects in a sustainable manner. A second phase will facilitate access to innovative financing solutions adapted to the real needs of beneficiaries.
“We believe that financial inclusion is an essential engine of progress. Since our launch in Ivory Coast and our recent expansion in Senegal, we are committed to supporting populations through innovative solutions like Tik Tak, which facilitate access to micro-credits in seconds. This partnership with IFC demonstrates our ambition to go even further by providing women entrepreneurs with the tools necessary to build strong and sustainable businesses. Through access to training and financing, we are investing in a more inclusive and prosperous future for our region,” says Audrey Koffi Niamkey, Director of Business Development and Transformation at Orange Bank Africa and project manager. And Nathalie Kouassi Akon, Global Director of IFC’s Gender and Economic Inclusion program added: “this strengthened initiative represents a significant step forward in promoting equitable economic opportunities for women in Africa, by offering them the means to build strong and resilient businesses while realizing their entrepreneurial aspirations.”
Thousands of beneficiary women entrepreneurs trained
Since its launch in 2008, the 10,000 Women program has enabled more than 200,000 women entrepreneurs in 150 countries to access specialized training and adapted financing. IFC and Goldman Sachs are also collaborating to expand online access to the 10,000 Women education program to more women in Africa. Available for free on Coursera, this program offers practical tools and allows participants to join a global network of 10,000 women entrepreneurs, thus promoting exchange and networking on an international scale.
By facilitating access to essential training and financing tools, Orange Bank Africa reaffirms its mission to promote financial inclusion and contribute sustainably to the economic development of populations.
Orange Bank AfricaOrange Bank Africa was born from a partnership between the Orange Group and the NSIA bancassurance group, two leading players in their respective markets. The 100% digital bank aims to strengthen West African financial inclusion, with the aim of improving the quality of life of populations. This is how it gives them simpler access to innovative banking solutions, based on mobile services. The Tik Tak loan, one of the bank’s flagship products, allows customers to receive up to 1,000,000 FCFA in less than 10 seconds on their account
Orange Money.
Based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the Orange Group’s digital bank expanded its activities to Senegal in November 2024, marking a key step in its expansion strategy in the UEMOA zone. Orange Bank Africa aims to continue expanding its presence in other markets in the region.
IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging countries. IFC works with businesses and financial institutions to promote inclusive and sustainable solutions. In 2024, IFC has committed a record $56 billion to support development in more than 100 countries.
Par The editorial staffEditorial Committee – Casablanca
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