A data-driven journey in support of women’s financial inclusion

Together with Advans, we developed a Gender Action Plan to support Advans to better serve female customer segments across Africa.

The Advans Group operates a network of microfinance institutions in Africa and Asia, specialising in providing financial services to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Amid the financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we partnered with Advans in 2020 to turn economic uncertainty into opportunity by launching a Gender Action Plan. This initiative aimed to address the gender disparities that were exacerbated by the pandemic and leverage Advans’ platform to empower women entrepreneurs through more tailored financial services.

The Gender Action Plan unfolded in three phases. First, we conducted a global gender diagnostic to benchmark progress and identify areas for improvement across Advans’ portfolio. Second, we led deeper analysis in Cameroon and Ghana in 2021, focused on developing gender-differentiated customer profiles and product value propositions. Third, we developed and implemented a comprehensive Gender Action Plan across Advans’ subsidiaries. This involved training workshops, the appointment of gender champions, and the creation of steering committees for continuous progress.

The impact is clear. Advans reported a 17.2 per cent increase in women borrowers across its African subsidiaries between 2021 and 2023. Furthermore, the growth rates in female borrowers were notably higher in Cameroon, Ghana, and Tunisia, where we concentrated our gender-focused initiatives.

“Thanks to the support from BII, Advans was able to define an overall gender strategy, share experiences between subsidiaries and refine its global gender-smart road map for the years to come with one overall objective: a better approach to women’s financial inclusion for a wider impact on their businesses, families, and communities.” – Advans representative