Important Facts of the News
- Total investment announced: $310 million
- Countries benefiting: Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco
- Event: Africa Financial Summit (AFIS) 2025, Casablanca, Morocco
- Co-hosts: IFC, Jeune Afrique Media Group, Kingdom of Morocco
- Participants: Over 1,250 senior financial sector leaders
- Suez Canal Bank financing: $50 million, 25% for women-owned businesses
- Attijariwafa Bank Egypt facility: $10 million, 25% for women-owned businesses, 50% for SMEs in vulnerable communities
- Saham Bank Morocco risk-sharing facility: $250 million, covers 50% of $500 million corporate loan portfolio
- VisionFund Ethiopia support: Advisory services and recent $10 million local currency loan
- IFC collaboration: Over 300 financial institutions across 40 African countries in the past 20 years
IFC Unveils Major Support for African Small Businesses
At the 2025 Africa Financial Summit (AFIS) held in Casablanca, Morocco, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced investments totaling $310 million aimed at strengthening smaller businesses and creating employment across the continent. The summit, which brought together policymakers, financial regulators, institutions, and fintech leaders, focused on mobilizing domestic and international capital for sustainable economic growth.
Key Projects and Partnerships
IFC detailed several targeted initiatives during the summit. In Egypt, a $50 million financing package through Suez Canal Bank will expand lending to small enterprises, with 25% of funds reserved for women-led businesses to foster inclusive growth. Additionally, Attijariwafa Bank Egypt will benefit from a $10 million local currency risk-sharing facility, supporting SMEs and vulnerable communities, while ensuring that a quarter of loans go to women entrepreneurs. This project is backed by the Prospects Partnership, which focuses on development for host communities and forcibly displaced populations.
In Morocco, a $250 million IFC risk-sharing facility with Saham Bank is set to enhance financial stability and increase access to credit for local businesses. IFC will assume up to half of the credit risk on Saham Bank’s $500 million corporate loan portfolio. Saham Bank recently acquired Société Générale Marocaine de Banques, strengthening its capacity to support Moroccan enterprises.
In Ethiopia, IFC is providing advisory services to VisionFund, a microfinance institution, to expand lending to smaller businesses and improve financial inclusion. This includes guidance on strategic business planning, risk management, and responsible finance. The initiative builds on a previous $10 million local currency loan extended to VisionFund, aiming to empower underserved entrepreneurs, particularly women.
Impact and Strategic Vision
Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Vice President for Africa, highlighted that combining Africa’s domestic financial resources with international capital can drive sustainable growth and job creation. He emphasized the role of partnerships and forums like AFIS in fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders to channel investment where it can generate the most impact.
AFIS, established in 2021, serves as a platform to discuss trends, risks, and opportunities shaping Africa’s financial sector. This year’s summit brought together over 1,250 leaders to explore ways of increasing funds for job-creating enterprises and promoting financial inclusion across the continent.
Over the past 20 years, IFC has collaborated with more than 300 financial institutions across 40 African nations, enhancing banking systems, expanding access to finance, and mobilizing private capital to support enterprise growth, employment, and economic development.