Strategic Partnership to Expand Access to Financing and Stimulate Private Sector Growth
A strategic partnership to expand access to financing and stimulate private sector growth has been established between the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Bank of Africa Congo (BOA Congo). The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Bank of Africa Congo (BOA Congo) have concluded a major partnership aimed at transforming access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Congo-Brazzaville, through a senior loan of 14.5 billion CFA francs, equivalent to approximately $25.5 million, announced in Brazzaville on November 11, 2025. This financing, the first granted by the IFC to a Congolese bank since 2016, comes in a context where private sector credit remains low, representing only 13.8% of GDP, and constitutes a crucial opportunity to boost an entrepreneurial fabric in search of stable and accessible funds. The agreement will give BOA Congo the opportunity to offer longer-term loans, better adapted to the needs of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, often faced with strict financing conditions, limiting their expansion and ability to create jobs. At least 10% of the envelope will be reserved for businesses owned or managed by women, a strong commitment to economic inclusion and gender equity. According to projections established by the IFC and BOA, this program could support more than 3,000 small businesses over the next five years and generate between 800 and 1,300 jobs, including nearly 500 direct jobs, thus contributing to stimulating local value chains and gradually formalizing activities that are still largely informal. In addition to the capital injection, the IFC will also support BOA Congo through institutional strengthening actions focusing on banking governance, risk management, and the implementation of social and environmental standards aligned with international standards, ensuring sustainable and responsible development. This strategic partnership therefore sends a strong signal regarding the resilience of the Congolese private sector and the growing confidence of international institutions in the country's economic potential. This partnership opens a new stage towards a more inclusive economy, where SMEs become a real engine of growth, job creation, and economic diversification in Congo-Brazzaville.
