Amplifying Women’s Leadership in Francophone Africa’s Financial Services
This session was held in French.
FinEquity Africa, in collaboration with Digital Frontiers Institute, organized its first French-language webinar to spotlight women's leadership in the financial services sector across Francophone African countries. The session aimed to foster dialogue, inspire action, and build momentum toward inclusive financial systems by addressing persistent gender gaps in leadership and data.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, access to formal financial services has grown rapidly over the past few decades, largely due to the expansion of mobile money services. Sub-Saharan Africa remains at the epicenter of mobile money services, according to the State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2025; globally there are more than two billion registered accounts and two thirds of these are in sub-Saharan Africa. West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries trail behind the benchmark countries in several dimensions of financial inclusion. While Senegal and Mali have shown impressive growth, their current account ownership rates remain below the Sub-Saharan African average of 55 percent (Findex 2021). Specifically, access to finance is low, particularly for the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Gender gaps persist in the region, which are characterized by supply-side gaps in tailored products, gender disaggregated data, gender diversity, and leadership in financial services. Between 2014 and 2021, the account ownership gap between men and women in the WAEMU region increased from 8 to 13 percent. The webinar panelists discussed how gender disparities related to women’s leadership in the financial sector contribute to unequal access and usage.
About this event
Online
Haoua Souley
Haoua is a consultant, digital finance specialist, and gender equality advocate with 10+ years in Senegal’s banking sector. Certified in digital finance, inclusive payment systems, gender equality, and project management, she has led efforts to expand rural financial inclusion—especially for women and youth—through initiatives like the World Bank–funded Smart Villages project in Niger.
Edwige Takassi
Edwige is the Founder and CEO of Women in Financial Inclusion Africa Consulting, based in Kinshasa, DRC. With 20+ years in the financial sector, she specializes in MSME finance, women’s economic empowerment, and advisory on gender-inclusive strategies. She previously held leadership roles at Equity Bank DRC and ProCredit Ghana.
Gisele Yitamben
Gisele Yitamben is a women’s financial inclusion expert across Francophone countries, with deep experience in MSME finance, development evaluation, and project management. A Certified Digital Finance Practitioner, she is also the founder of ABBIA, a community currency initiative promoting locally driven financial inclusion.
Chantal Ndiaye
Chantal Ndiaye is the Head of Division in charge of Corporate Payments for NGOs and the State at Yas Sénégal. A passionate and resilient professional, she brings over nine years of experience in digital finance and strategic partnerships, with a strong focus on advancing financial inclusion and gender equality. Chantal is skilled in building and nurturing partnerships that deliver social impact and strengthen communities, particularly through digital financial services and mobile money solutions.
Ariane Kouassi
Ariane Kouassi is a Digital Financial Inclusion Specialist with eight years of experience in digital finance, microfinance, and market research across Francophone Africa. She supports CGAP’s Resilient Rural Women project in Côte d’Ivoire, and has previously served as Project Manager and Country Director for the international NGO People Power Inclusion (PPI) and consulted for firms like Horus, PHB, and Microsave on inclusive finance and agri-value chain digitization.
Tariro Nyimo
Tariro is passionate about programs and partnerships related to Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing Gender Equality and Inclusive Finance. She is a thought leader in the area of digital financial inclusion, digital gender divide and women’s economic empowerment.