In Central Africa, young people represent more than 60% of the population, but access to financing remains limited for many project holders, particularly women and actors in the informal sector. In Brazzaville, institutional officials, youth organizations, women’s networks, and financial partners discussed mechanisms that could promote financial inclusion better adapted to the realities of the sub-region.
According to several regional studies, nearly 70% of women’s economic activities still operate in the informal sector, with limited access to conventional bank credit. Young entrepreneurs, meanwhile, often face a lack of financial guarantees, insufficient technical support, and weak access to suitable financing mechanisms. Meeting in Brazzaville as part of preparations for the third summit on financing for women and youth in Africa, participants notably called in their final declaration for the creation of a regional mechanism capable of pooling resources and supporting projects led by women and young people.
“Considering the high proportion of young people in the population of Central African countries and their strategic role in socio-economic development, the persistent inequality in access to financing for youth, and between women and men as well as across generations (…) we declare our shared commitment to work toward the establishment of a strategic regional fund dedicated to financing women and youth, combining savings, micro-loans, grants, concessional loans, and guarantees, and to promote the harmonization of regulatory and tax frameworks in order to remove barriers to inclusive and cross-border financing.”
Kouassi Léonard KOFFI, Executive Director, Think Tank LaRAD OING – Côte d’Ivoire
Participants also called for the harmonization of regulatory frameworks in order to facilitate cross-border financing and further encourage financial innovation in the sub-region. For the women’s organizations present, the issue goes beyond the purely economic dimension. It is also about strengthening women’s empowerment and their participation in the development of African countries.
“Soon, the AfCFTA will become operational, and therefore Central African countries must prepare themselves. There is a strong willingness among women to be actively involved in this process and in the implementation of the AfCFTA, and so this is already a positive context that justifies the establishment of a regional fund, because young people and women make up the majority of the population.”
Lina EKOMO, President of the Network for Women’s Leadership – Central African Republic
“I think this seminar is very important because it focuses on financing for women and youth, and this is a topical issue. We regularly discuss interest rates, access to credit, and guarantees there are all these questions surrounding financing. So having sessions for reflection and work on this subject is relevant.”
Mélina Mpourou, Entrepreneur – Congo
Held under the high patronage of the First Lady of the Republic of Congo, Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, who is committed to supporting women and youth through her foundation Fondation Congo Assistance, this seminar aims to develop regional mechanisms capable of sustainably supporting entrepreneurship, employment, and economic empowerment in the sub-region.
