Some 6,000 women entrepreneurs are poised to receive micro-business loans from women’s empowerment organization, Mamy Nyanga Cameroon Women Entrepreneurship Network (MANYCAWE). The loans have been made available thanks to a partnership between MANYCAWE and Univers Finance Cameroun SA (UFC SA), a second category micro finance institution.
The financial deal was reached in Yaounde prior to the 2025 International Women’s Day commemorated on Saturday, March 8. Senator Franciose Puene (Mami Nyanga); founder of MANYCAWE inked the deal on behalf of her organization while Keufack Jacquot Alain, Managing Director of UFC SA signed for the financial institution.
According to the partnership, UFC SA will provide an initial loan of FCFA 10 million to MANYCAWE to sponsor projects by its members to be refunded within six months. The interest rate is set at 6% per year besides value added tax set at 19.25%.
This was disclosed during a press briefing by MANYCAWE at its Hotel Franco headquarters in Yaounde on Monday, March 10, 2025.
Per one of the clauses of the partnership, the president of MANYCAWE sets her assets, both present and future, as collateral security for the loans.
This milestone in efforts to empower Cameroonian women was accomplished during the official launch of a trade fair co-organised by MANYCAWE and the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family at esplanade of the National Museum in Yaounde. During the fair that part of activities leading to the 40th edition of the International Women’s Day, women entrepreneurs of her network exhibited various business items, mainly made-in-Cameroon products.
Created on February 6, 2020, MANYCAWE supports women entrepreneurs by building their capacities, scaling up access to financial products and services for them, expanding networks and offering mentorship.
“Our network also seeks to organize forums to foster entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and capacity building for women and youth, with the goal of developing and supporting the creativity of our members and the partnership network,” says MANYCAWE.
Like many other associations with a special focus on women empowerment, MANYCAWE is addressing an urgent social issue in Cameroon by closing the gender gap in financial inclusion with business loans for women entrepreneurs.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), access to finance is the second most problematic factor to doing business in Cameroon after corruption.
