Women's access to Green Finance in Africa: advocacy messages

Green finance is channeled via commercial banks and investment vehicles that are not well adapted to small businesses, where a large proportion of women-led entrepreneurial activity in Sub-Saharan Africa lies. Because of this, women experience problems and obstacles in accessing finance - from lack of collateral to financial products not adapted to their needs and economic activities- which has led to a USD 42 billion gender gap in Africa. In addition to this, complexity and costs associated with green certification processes makes green finance unattainable for smaller businesses and organisations. This advocacy notes outlines the most recent data on women's access to green finance in Africa and indicates what policymakers, civil soiety organisation and financial institutions can do to improve women entrepreneurs' situation in accessing green finance.