Proparco and Ecobank Group have announced an expanded phase of their long-standing partnership. This is aimed at mobilising up to €300 million to support agriculture and women-led businesses across Africa.
The renewed collaboration builds on a relationship dating back to 2012, during which Proparco has supported Ecobank with more than $400 million in financing. This includes senior loans, capital market transactions, trade finance guarantees and SME-focused risk-sharing mechanisms across multiple African markets.
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The new agreement reflects a shared push to deliver scalable, high-impact financing solutions by combining Ecobank’s pan-African footprint with Proparco’s diversified financial instruments.
“Africa’s growth requires execution at scale,” said Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Group. “Through this expanded partnership with Proparco, we are mobilising €300 million and directing it into agricultural value chains and women businesses supported by our Ellevate programme. This is capital at work in the real economy, financing food, livelihoods and local value creation.”
Agriculture remains a critical yet underfinanced sector across Africa. It contributes roughly 20% of GDP and employing nearly half the continent’s workforce. However, rising global pressures, including geopolitical tensions, higher energy and fertiliser costs, and supply chain disruptions, continue to strain food systems, particularly in East and West Africa.
The partnership aims to address structural financing gaps across the agricultural value chain, from production and processing to trade.
“Agriculture is at the heart of Africa’s future, yet it remains one of its most underfinanced sectors,” said Françoise Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of Proparco. “By deepening our partnership with Ecobank, we are combining our strengths to unlock large-scale solutions that strengthen food security, build resilience and reduce inequalities, including gender inequalities.”
The partnership will focus on three key areas:
- Supporting agricultural SMEs
- Scaling agro-industrial investment
- Expanding agricultural trade finance
By targeting agriculture and women-led enterprises—particularly through Ecobank’s Ellevate programme—the initiative aims to deliver impact beyond financing, supporting livelihoods, local value creation, and long-term economic stability across Africa.
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