Eighty-three percent of women entrepreneurs’ associations in Mauritania rely primarily on membership fees, a financial reality that limits their capacity to grow and support their members. This finding, revealed in a new African Development Bank study, underscores the urgent need for sustainable financing models to unlock the full economic potential of women entrepreneurs in Africa.
Launched recently in Nouakchott, the study mapped women entrepreneurs’ associations in sixteen African countries for the first time. It revealed both the resilience and the vulnerabilities of these groups. While nearly one in four African women is an entrepreneur, the research shows that 87 percent of associations lack financial management capacity. Only 29 percent have partnerships with financial institutions, leaving many without the resources or guidance needed to grow.
The report’s Mauritania-specific finding, heavy dependence on membership fees, underscores the fragility of the financial models that support women entrepreneurs. Without access to sustainable revenue streams, these associations struggle to provide consistent services, training and market access for their members.
The report was presented during a workshop that gathered women entrepreneurs’ associations, civil society, government bodies, banks and development partners. The event served as a forum to discuss the study’s findings, share success stories and outline actionable steps for strengthening women’s economic participation.
“This workshop is a genuine space for exchange, co-creation and forward-looking engagement. We are here to combine our expertise and chart the next steps to support women entrepreneurs’ associations across our continent and in Mauritania in particular,” said Zeneb Touré, Manager of the Civil Society and Community Engagement Division at the African Development Bank. She emphasized that Africa’s future is being shaped by its women entrepreneurs and that the study could serve as a blueprint for inclusive development if stakeholders work together.
The research also highlighted success stories from across the continent, including innovative models for capacity building and financing women-led micro and small enterprises. These examples point to solutions that could be adapted in Mauritania to bridge the financial and skills gap.
For many participants, the findings confirmed what they already experience in their daily work. “Our associations are brimming with potential but they need structured support to multiply their impact,” said Fatimetou Mint Sidi Mohamed O. Elvil, President of the Mauritanian Council of Women Entrepreneurs.
The workshop marked the beginning of a national push to replicate best practices and forge new partnerships. Lematt Mint Megueya, President of the Mauritanian Union of Women Entrepreneurs and Traders (UMAFEC), described the study as “of critical importance” for its detailed assessment of the institutional strengths and needs of women’s associations.
The symbolic handover of the report to Mauritanian associations was more than a formality. It signaled a commitment to move from analysis to action, with each association positioned as a catalyst for the country’s economic transformation.
The initiative is part of the Bank’s broader Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) program, which was launched in 2016 to close the estimated $42 billion financing gap faced by women entrepreneurs. Through partnerships with 185 financial institutions, AFAWA has already channeled over $1.2 billion to women-led businesses across the continent.
AFAWA’s work is reinforced by the Bank’s 2021–2025 Gender Strategy, which focuses on transforming key sectors into accessible fields of opportunity for women. The strategy aims to ensure that both women and men have equal access to resources, infrastructure and services needed to build sustainable livelihoods.
By mapping the realities of women entrepreneurs’ associations, this new study offers a clear roadmap for policymakers, development partners and the private sector. It shows where capacity building is most needed, highlights financing models that can be scaled and opens the door for strategic collaborations that go beyond short-term fixes.
For Mauritania, the challenge is urgent but also full of possibility. Reducing reliance on membership fees and building stronger financial partnerships could give women entrepreneurs the tools they need to expand their businesses, create jobs and drive economic growth. If the momentum from this study and workshop is maintained, Mauritanian women entrepreneurs could be better equipped not only to sustain their enterprises but to shape the country’s economic future.
