Inclusive bonds to harness informal sector contributions in Africa

 

Under the leadership of FinAfrique, a consultancy firm specializing in financial market analyses and capacity strengthening, this project aims to inform the design, testing and roll out of an innovative financing mechanism with clear potential to drive inclusion and gender equality. The inclusive bonds concept consists of a bond issue tailored for very small enterprises and the informal sector. The project will provide the necessary evidence to tailor the bonds model to fit the local context and the characteristics of the targeted beneficiaries in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire.

Cross-border trade and craft processing are the pilot sectors for the project. These sectors are priority areas under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and the national development plans of Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. In addition, women are overwhelmingly represented as informal workers in these two sectors, which raises both challenges and opportunities for advancing women’s economic empowerment.