![[Rwanda] African Development Bank, partners launch AFAWA Risk Sharing Facility](Images/2018/women in business.JPG)
[Rwanda] African Development Bank, partners launch AFAWA Risk Sharing Facility
The African Development Bank and partners officially launched the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Risk Sharing Facility at a press conference hero during the 2019 Global Gender Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.
The AFAWA program gained momentum with significant support from commercial banks and a $ 1 million commitment from the government of Rwanda.
AFAWA is one of the Bank's flagship gender-focused programs that seeks to accelerate growth and employment creation across African economies, closing the financing gap for women.
"Today is a great day!" Said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank. With this facility, women will be able to receive technical assistance. We will strengthen our capacity and we will get there. The decision that we are taking today is highly transformational. It will permanently transform Africa. "
Attijariwafa Bank and the African Guarantee Fund signed a $ 50 million Memorandum of Understanding to the risk lending to women through partial guarantees.
AFAWA is expected to unlock $ 3 billion in private sector financing for empowered female entrepreneurs through capacity-building development, access to finance as well as policy, legal and regulatory reforms to support enterprises led by women.
In August, G7 leaders approved a package totaling $ 251 million in support or AFAWA during the summit in Biarritz.
The 2019 Global Gender Summit is co-organized by Rwanda and the African Development Bank. It aims to share best practice and encourage innovation to accelerate progress on gender equality.
