Opportunities
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
Grants, VC funds, accelerators, and competitions for African entrepreneurs.
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$10M–$100M (facility level to banks); SME end-borrowers: $50K–$5M via intermediaries
The AfDB Trade Finance Program (TFP) provides guarantees and loans to support trade finance activities across Africa. Primarily works through local financial institutions (banks) to extend trade finance to SMEs and corporates. The program issues Trade Finance Transaction Guarantees to de-risk confirming banks' exposure to African issuing banks, enabling greater trade finance flow to underserved markets.
Trade Finance Guarantees
Up to 100% guarantee coverage to international confirming banks, de-risking trade finance for African importers/exporters.
SME Access via Intermediaries
Partner banks on-lend to SMEs for trade finance needs at improved terms due to AfDB guarantee.
Technical Assistance
Capacity building for partner financial institutions to improve SME lending practices.
Intra-African Trade
Facilitating trade between African countries, aligned with AfCFTA objectives.
SME Trade Finance
Expanding trade finance access for small and medium enterprises through bank intermediaries.
Women-Led Business Trade
Targeted facilities supporting women entrepreneurs and agribusinesses in trade finance.
Banks seeking to expand trade finance portfolios in Africa. SMEs with genuine trade finance needs (import/export) that can be served through partner banks. Strong emphasis on intra-African trade and regional integration.
Technical assistance to partner banks. Policy support for trade facilitation. Co-investment facilitation for larger transactions.
Long approval timelines for new bank facilities. Heavy documentation requirements. Startups have NO direct access — must work through partner banks. May require government co-sign for sovereign-linked facilities. Not suitable for pre-revenue startups.
This is NOT a direct funding source for startups. If you need trade finance as an SME, ask your local bank if they have an AfDB Trade Finance facility. AfDB also has separate SME programs through financial intermediaries that may be more accessible.
1964
Active Since
Yes
Deploying
$310M financial package for MSMEs and women entrepreneurs in South Africa; $50M Trade Finance Guarantee to Awash Bank (Ethiopia) for SMEs; $20M Trade Finance Guarantee to BCI (Mozambique) for SMEs; $15M investment via SPE Capital for SME growth