Financial access is a foundation for independence

Women’s financial inclusion is about more than opening a bank account or receiving a first loan. It means having a genuine ability to use useful, affordable and relevant financial services at every stage of life and entrepreneurship: saving, funding a business, coping with an emergency, expanding an activity and planning for the future.

Across many countries, women entrepreneurs run businesses that are vital to local economies. They operate neighbourhood shops, provide services, process agricultural products and build small workshops. Yet they often face more barriers than men when seeking formal financial services.

These barriers can take many forms. A lack of recognised collateral, limited business formalisation, irregular income, mobility constraints or limited involvement in household financial decisions can restrict access to finance. Social norms and unequal domestic responsibilities can also reduce the time available to visit a branch, attend training or develop a business.

The World Bank’s Global Findex highlights that financial inclusion must be considered beyond account ownership. It also includes the effective use of financial services, savings, borrowing, payments and resilience when shocks occur.

Why a one-size-fits-all offer may not work

A financial product described as neutral can still fail to reflect the realities faced by all clients. If collateral requirements, minimum loan sizes, opening hours or communication methods do not account for the constraints experienced by some women, they may be less likely to apply for finance or may remain limited to very small loan amounts.

The goal is not to set women and men against each other. It is to identify gaps, understand what causes them and adapt the response. A meaningful approach starts with gender-disaggregated data: access rates, loan sizes, savings behaviour, retention, satisfaction and client-reported outcomes.

Client interviews add an essential layer to this analysis. They help institutions understand what affects trust, when support is most needed and which services can genuinely make it easier to grow a business.

This listening can lead to practical improvements: more flexible collateral requirements, lower fees, clearer information, a simpler onboarding journey, or savings solutions designed for household expenses and emergency periods.

Non-financial support matters too

Finance alone does not solve every challenge. To turn a loan into a driver of growth, many women entrepreneurs also need to strengthen their financial management, planning and cash-flow practices.

Financial education, business coaching and support for formalisation can help a client anticipate her needs, prepare for larger financing and build a long-term relationship with a financial institution.

Advans Tunisia’s experience supports this approach. A study among female clients reported improvements in financial management, confidence and the ability to achieve financial goals. Most importantly, it shows that useful financial services are part of a broader journey towards independence. Read Advans Tunisia’s findings.

How to make inclusion more practical

Across Africa, several financial institutions have introduced products and programmes aimed at supporting women’s financial inclusion and entrepreneurship. Organisations such as COFINA (FIN’Elle), Baobab, and Crédit Access offer a range of services that typically include savings accounts, financing for women-led income-generating activities and businesses, as well as digital financial services designed to facilitate transactions and account management. In some cases, these financial solutions are complemented by training, mentoring or business development support to help women strengthen their economic activities and expand their opportunities.

Advans International is developing a gender-smart approach designed to better understand women’s needs while reflecting the specific realities of each country where it operates. It combines three complementary priorities: promoting equity internally, removing access barriers for female clients and supporting their growth over time.

Local initiatives bring this commitment to life. In Ghana, the EduSave savings product helps families manage school-related expenses, while the AdvansHer programme supports women entrepreneurs through tailored financial solutions, training, and business development opportunities. Advans Ghana also promotes women’s financial inclusion in agriculture through its Shea Business Empowerment Programme, developed with partners including Bunge, Agriterra and the Ghana Shea Alliance. The programme provides women involved in shea production with access to finance and support to strengthen their economic resilience.

In Côte d’Ivoire, Advans works with Village Savings & Loan Associations (VSLAs), community savings and lending groups largely composed of women. By supporting these groups, Advans promotes women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment through practical, locally adapted financial solutions.

Women’s financial inclusion is therefore a service-quality commitment. It requires institutions to listen, measure, adapt and support clients. This is how financial institutions can help deliver not only better access to finance, but also more sustainable growth for women-led businesses.