Coca-Cola and IFC Empowers Africa Women Entrepreneurs

As a way of positively impacting on women in Eurasia and Africa, the Coca-Cola Company and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a $100 million, three-year joint initiative to provide access to finance for women entrepreneurs in Eurasia and Africa.

The collaboration builds on the synergies between Coca-Cola’s 5by20 women’s economic empowerment initiative and IFC’s Banking on Women program to help address barriers women entrepreneurs commonly face in some of the world’s poorest countries. 

By this collaboration, IFC will work through its network of local and regional banking institutions to provide financing and business skills training to SMEs that are owned or operated by women entrepreneurs across the Coca-Cola value chain.

“Women entrepreneurs make significant contributions to emerging and developing economies, yet have lower access to finance than their male counterparts.  By providing greater access to capital, we are investing in our own success and the success of the communities we serve,” said Nathan Kalumbu, president, Eurasia and Africa Group, the Coca-Cola Company.

According to James Scriven, IFC Director of Financial Markets, “Women entrepreneurs represent significant untapped economic potential in developing countries. They are essential for creating jobs and achieving sustainable growth. This innovative partnership with Coca-Cola will help expand access to finance for thousands of women who are part of the company’s supply and distribution chain.”

This initiative with IFC is a notable milestone for 5by20, The Coca-Cola Company’s global initiative to enable the economic empowerment of five million women across the Company’s global value chain by 2020.  Launched in 2010, 5by20 is helping women succeed as entrepreneurs, while also creating thriving, sustainable communities by providing access to business skills, financial services, assets and support networks of peers and mentors.  5by20 currently has programs in 12 countries.