{
  "id": 9606065,
  "title": "Ecobank Group commits US$2.6bn to women-led businesses and agribusinesses across Africa",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/ecobank-group-commits-us-2-6bn-to-women-led-businesses-and",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-24T18:49:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Joy Business",
    "slug": "joy-business",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ecobank-group-commits-us2-6bn-to-women-led-businesses-and-agribusinesses-across-africa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Ecobank Group has committed USD 2.6 billion over the next decade to women-led businesses and agribusinesses across its 34 African markets, during its 40th anniversary year. The funds will be allocated through two initiatives: USD 2.0 billion for women entrepreneurs via the Ellevate programme, and USD 600 million for agriculture-focused SMEs under the \"Farm-to-Fork\" approach. The Ellevate programme aims to increase its registered client base to 400,000 formal businesses and provide digital onboarding and financial inclusion initiatives, targeting up to 1 million female micro-entrepreneurs. The agribusiness commitment will support the wider agricultural value chain, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, digital payment channels, and structured trade finance. Both initiatives will leverage Ecobank's Single Market Trade Hub, a digital marketplace connecting African businesses, and will be pursued through expanded credit, cross-border trade, digitalisation, and capacity building, with a focus on ESG integration.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Ecobank Group commits US$2.6bn to women-led businesses and agribusinesses across Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/ecobank-group-commits-us-2-6bn-to-women-led-businesses-and-9611158",
        "published": "2026-09-24T18:49:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}