• IFC grants a $30 million senior loan to boost SME lending in Mauritania.
• At least 25% of the funds will support women-owned or women-led businesses.
• El Amana plans to grow its SME loan portfolio from $200 million to $526 million by 2029.

The International Finance Corporation signed a $30 million senior financing agreement on November 19 with Banque El Amana, a private institution created in 1996 and based in Nouakchott.

The operation follows an earlier IFC commitment in May 2025, when it provided a $10 million trade finance line to support import-export activities of local businesses. The new loan aims to strengthen the bank’s lending capacity to meet demand from micro, small, and medium enterprises in Mauritania.

Under the agreement, at least 25% of the funds will be directed to companies owned or led by women. This approach is part of IFC programs designed to improve women’s access to tailored financing.

Through this loan, IFC will support El Amana in expanding its SME credit portfolio, which is expected to grow from $200 million in 2024 to $526 million in 2029. This expansion requires additional financial resources as well as stronger internal tools, including risk management and borrower monitoring systems.

The bank’s management said the partnership helps enhance its operational capacity. Chief Executive Mohamed Ahmed Salem Bouna Moctar noted that the support contributes to the expansion of services for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, a group that represents a growing share of economic activity in the country.

El Amana is one of Mauritania’s medium-sized banks and ranks tenth in the market by assets. At the end of 2024, it served 38,000 banking clients and had 167,000 users of its digital wallet. Its capital is 99% owned by Ahmed Salem Bouna Moctar, with the remaining 1% held by other shareholders.

Chamberline Moko