LOMÉ, Togo – March 3, 2025 – Ecobank, the leading pan-African financial services group, is proud to announce significant enhancements to its gender-financing solution, Ellevate by Ecobank. This expanded programme is designed to bridge the gender financing gap and empower women entrepreneurs across Africa, providing both financial and non-financial solutions tailored to their needs.
The enhanced Ellevate programme now caters to a wider range of female entrepreneurs, from individual business owners in the formal and informal sectors to women leaders in large corporations. With this extension, Ecobank aims to further its commitment to supporting women-owned, women-led, and women-focused businesses, reinforcing its market leadership in gender financing while helping to drive socio-economic impact across the continent.
As the World Bank estimates that closing the gender gap in Africa could add $2.5 trillion to the continent’s GDP by 2025, Ecobank’s efforts are critical to promoting both social justice and economic prosperity. Ellevate by Ecobank was initially launched to support women entrepreneurs, and since its inception, it has already disbursed over US$200 million in loans, provided networking opportunities, and delivered leadership training.
A New Era for Gender Financing
Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group, said: “We recognize the pivotal role women entrepreneurs play in Africa’s growth, and we are committed to supporting them at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. With Ellevate 2.0, we are making gender financing bigger, better, and more inclusive, ensuring that women entrepreneurs have the resources they need to succeed.”
Enhanced Offerings for Women Entrepreneurs
The new Ellevate 2.0 offers a broader range of financial and non-financial services, including:
- Increased access to finance with unsecured loans of up to US$50,000
- Competitive interest rates and favorable collateral requirements
- Access for customers with a two-year track record (instead of the industry-standard three years)
- MyTradeHub platform for accessing new customers and markets across Africa
- Training and leadership development through webinars and business support
- Customized wealth management services
- A comprehensive insurance package that meets diverse needs
- A loyalty programme offering exclusive deals at select retail stores and recreation centres
The programme will be officially launched in nine of Ecobank’s affiliate countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, Togo, and Zimbabwe) by the end of March 2025, coinciding with International Women’s Day. Over the course of the year, the programme will expand across other sub-Saharan African affiliates.
A Commitment to Gender Equality and Sustainable Development
Ecobank’s expanded Ellevate programme is a key component of the bank’s broader strategy to promote gender equality, support sustainable development, and accelerate economic transformation across Africa.
“By enhancing our offerings and positioning Ecobank as the bank of choice for women entrepreneurs, we are contributing not only to their individual success but also to the economic development of Africa as a whole,” added Awori.
