Orange Bank Africa, a fully digital bank headquartered in Abidjan, has formalized two strategic partnerships with the Société de garantie des crédits aux petites et moyennes entreprises (SGPME)—an Ivorian state-backed agency dedicated to boosting financing for small and medium-sized enterprises. The agreements, signed in Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital, unlock a total of 17 billion FCFA in credit facilities tailored for Ivorian TPEs, PMEs, and ETIs, including a dedicated 4 billion FCFA allocation for women-led businesses.
The initiative targets a critical bottleneck in the Ivorian economy: access to finance. Audrey Koffi, CEO of Orange Bank Africa, highlighted the structural challenges faced by entrepreneurs, stating, “The real obstacle isn’t the market or innovation—it’s securing the necessary capital. That’s why SGPME and we have joined forces to bridge this gap, with a special focus on empowering women entrepreneurs.”
Breaking barriers for women-led businesses
Orange Bank Africa processes approximately 20 billion FCFA in loans monthly, yet many women struggle to access these funds due to collateral requirements. The new partnership addresses this by offering women entrepreneurs credit lines backed by SGPME guarantees of up to 70%. “This means up to 4 billion FCFA is now earmarked to support female founders, removing a major hurdle in their path to growth,” Koffi noted.
Strengthening SMEs through shared risk
Joëlle Kouassi, CEO of SGPME, emphasized the collaborative nature of the scheme: “Traditionally, banks demand collateral from SMEs, which many cannot provide. Our role is to share this risk by guaranteeing at least 50%—and up to 70%—of the loan value, reducing the burden on entrepreneurs.”
She added, “While 17 billion FCFA won’t solve all financing gaps, it’s a significant step toward leveling the playing field. Our goal is to shrink the divide in access to capital, not just for a few, but for all who contribute to Côte d’Ivoire’s economic fabric.”
Digital finance as a growth catalyst
Orange Bank Africa, now six years old, continues to champion digital financial inclusion across West Africa. By leveraging technology, the bank aims to democratize banking services, ensuring that businesses of all sizes—especially those historically underserved—can thrive. The 17 billion FCFA initiative aligns with this mission, combining SGPME’s state-backed guarantees with Orange Bank Africa’s agile, digital-first lending model.
