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Microfinance in West Africa under strain despite client expansion

Auteur: Aicha Fall

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Microfinance en Afrique de l’Ouest sous tension malgré l’expansion des clients

As of the first quarter of 2025, the BCEAO lists 533 microfinance institutions in WAEMU, serving nearly 19.7 million clients through 4,807 service points across the eight member states. This coverage illustrates the growing importance of microfinance for financial inclusion and support for local populations.

However, despite the increase in accounts opened and deposits collected, loans granted declined compared to the previous quarter. This decline affected portfolio quality, with a deterioration rate of 9.8%, indicating that growth in the sector is not always synonymous with risk management.

Ten microfinance institutions are currently under interim administration, highlighting persistent challenges related to governance and financial management. These situations demonstrate that regulatory oversight and risk control tools remain essential to avoid localized crises.

The challenge for West African microfinance is twofold: to continue expanding access to financial services while strengthening the strength of institutions. Success will require rigorous monitoring mechanisms, manager training, and innovation in credit risk management to ensure the sector remains a sustainable driver of economic and social development.

Auteur: Aicha Fall

Commentaires (1)

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    KulengaObs il y a 4 heures

    faut aussi dire que l'avènement des fintech de qualité proposent des alternatives de choix. Avec Djamo Invest on a accès à certains produits du marché boursier, avec OrangeBank les crédits sont plus accessibles. Du coup les microfinances et leur épargnes rémunérés à 3% et les taux d'intérêts exorbitants sont relayés en second plan.

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