AdvansHer: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana

As a key player among international microfinance institutions, Advans continues to strengthen its commitment to microfinance and women across the continent. Through the AdvansHer program, Advans Ghana actively contributes to micro finance in Africa by supporting women entrepreneurs and fostering inclusive, sustainable economic growth. Launched during Summer 2024, the AdvansHer program was developed by Advans Ghana in partnership with the Development Bank Ghana (DBG). The initiative aims to accelerate both the professional and family success of women entrepreneurs by providing them with the skills, financial access, and long-term support needed to grow resilient businesses.

Building Entrepreneurial Skills Through Training

The program is built around a structured training component focused on three essential pillars for business success. Digital marketing teaches participants how to use social media and online platforms to increase visibility and attract new clients. Business formalization guides participants in structuring and registering their activities, facilitating access to formal financial services. Record keeping introduces practical financial management methods to better control cash flow, monitor expenses, and inform strategic decisions. In addition to the training modules, each participant receives a tailored practical kit including planning templates, marketing guides, and financial management tools, enabling them to immediately apply the skills learned. To date, 100 women entrepreneurs have benefited from these trainings and a peer community has been established to encourage networking and knowledge exchange.

Improved Access to Financing

To remove financial barriers faced by many women entrepreneurs, Advans Ghana adjusted its collateral policy, enabling access to higher loan amounts. Between July 2024 and June 2025, this initiative resulted in a 50% increase in the total loan volume disbursed to women compared to the same period the previous year.

Supporting Children’s Education Through Savings

Advans Ghana also launched EduSave, an innovative savings product designed for women who want to plan and finance their children’s education. This initiative helps break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by leveraging the central role of Ghanaian women in household education. To date, over 2,700 EduSave accounts have been opened and total deposits exceed €410,000. This strong uptake reflects the growing trust in structured savings solutions and the increasing commitment of families to prioritizing education for the next generation. This strong uptake reflects the growing trust in structured savings solutions and the increasing commitment of families to prioritizing education for the next generation.

Through the AdvansHer program, Advans Ghana demonstrates how microfinance for women can drive meaningful change for entrepreneurship. By combining training, innovative savings solutions, strong client protection practices, and improved access to micro lending in Africa, Advans reinforces its role among leading MFIs in Africa, advancing inclusive growth and long-term economic empowerment for women.

To learn more, explore how Microfinance Is Powering Women-Led Businesses across Africa. Women entrepreneurs continue to face well-documented barriers that limit their access to finance, hinder business growth, and restrict broader financial inclusion within their communities.

Discover as well as an interview with Yens, who initiated the EduSave project. EduSave, developed by Advans Ghana, include training programs, designed to empower women to save effectively for their children’s education and build sustainable businesses.  In the interview, Yens presents the initiative in detail, its objectives for women in Ghana and the program’s impacts and future outlook.