The initiative aims to create and preserve jobs for young people and women in the East and Central Africa region.
AGF and Equity’s previous partnership has already unlocked over USD 160 million in loans for nearly 2,000 MSMEs,including 500 women-led and 900 youth-led businesses.
Building on a robust collaboration established in 2018, which was later enhanced in 2020 with a USD 75 million facility, this renewed partnership represents the largest single guarantee engagement in AGF’s history.
Theframework will be implemented in three phases, starting with an initial USD 115 million tranche already committed to the five core subsidiaries.
It will cover loans to MSMEs, with a focus on women-owned, youth-led, and greenenterprises.
To date, the AGF–Equity partnership has unlocked over USD 160 million in loans for nearly 2,000 MSMEs, including 500 women-led and 900 youth-led businesses.
Noting the anticipated impact of the renewed partnership, AGFGroup CEO, Jules Ngankam, said, “Our renewed partnership with Equity Group further increases our footprint and impact in the region.
A substantial portion of the risk-sharing mechanism between AGF and Equity will offer women entrepreneurs increased guarantee cover along with technical assistance as provided by theEquity Group Foundation, to help reduce the gender financegap.
In addition, AGF will continue supporting Equity Group through its Capacity Development initiative, by offering comprehensive training programs for the bank’s staff with a special focus on enhancing gender-smart investing.
Equity Group and AGF remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure that this enhanced facility delivers measurable value to the region’s MSMEs and aligns with theUNSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063, reinforcing both institutions shared vision to transform lives through inclusivefinance.
Paul Arithi 
This facility will enable Equity Group to scale its lending activities to MSMEs, unlocking USD 1 billion in financing for these businesses.
It will cover loans to MSMEs, with a focus on women-owned, youth-led, and green enterprises.
The partnership leverages Equity’s African Development Bank partnership under the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Guarantee for Growth program, which aims to unlock up to USD 3 billion in financing for women SMEs in Africa through financial institutions.
