Access to finance
In Benin, Togo, and Senegal, alternative financing mechanisms such as microfinance, Islamic finance, crowdfunding, community finance, and leasing are increasingly seen as an important lever for expanding access to finance for young and women entrepreneurs.
These mechanisms are at the heart of the objectives of the IYBA-SEED program, which supports entrepreneurship support organizations to strengthen inclusive financial ecosystems.
Funding mechanisms
However, the adoption and scaling up of these financing mechanisms remain uneven. Regulatory and policy frameworks often struggle to keep pace with innovation, creating uncertainty for entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs), financial service providers, and entrepreneurs. In some cases, regulations are unclear or inconsistently applied. In others, they were designed for traditional financial institutions and do not reflect the realities of newer, hybrid, or community-based models.
These constraints directly affect the ability of ESOs to support entrepreneurs and limit their access to suitable, affordable, and flexible financing.
This webinar draws on the findings of a regional study (available in French and soon also in English) conducted by MSC Consulting, which analyzes the regulatory and policy environments governing alternative financing mechanisms in Benin, Togo, and Senegal, with a particular focus on their implications for young entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs.
Speakers
- Amar SECK, Director of Decentralized Financial Services Regulation, Ministry of Finance and Budget, Senegal
- Nelson AJALA, IYBA-SEED, SNV
- Elisabeth KIBITEK and Felicien LOKOSSOU, MSC Consulting
- Malick SOUMARE, ASMEC Sénégal
- Colette HOUEZE BIGA, Technoserve, Benin
- A peer exchange moderated by Leva Rouhani and Caroline Guidemann
Target audience
- Advocacy organizations
- Public policymakers
- Financial service providers
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 13h GMT - 14h30 GMT
Online webinar on registration
Language: FRENCH
