Cofina is a young pan-African mesofinance group. Following the 2019 investments into the Ivorian and the Senegalese subsidiaries, BIO has the opportunity to support Cofina Mali, which is less mature and is operating in a complex market with low financial inclusion.
This investment will allow Cofina Mali to support the informal economy in a post-covid context.
Access to full range of banking services to highly underserved MSME segment in a fragile and LDC context.
Support growth of thousands of informal micro-enterprises, which are key drivers for local economic activity, employment, and poverty alleviation
Direct jobs supported and created, as well as the expected doubling of the number of branches by 2025
Innovative and more efficient banking processes and products that are especially adapted to the target MSME segment
Specific credit and saving services for informal micro-entrepreneurs which are the key target of Cofina
Institution strongly motivated to obtain SmartCampaign certification
SPI4 assessment and related recommendations are part of BIO’s ESAP.
E&S improvement measures that will be implemented
Besides these actions, Cofina Mali will be one of the three subsidiaries that will start implementing the E&S action plan agreed between Cofina Group and other DFIs.
Current situation
Cofina Mali is a microfinance institution with the majority of its portfolio oriented towards micro-entrepreneurs. While Cofina Mali currently has no formal E&S policy in place, it already uses an exclusion list as part of the credit manual, which is largely aligned with the EDFI exclusion list. They are also compliant with the majority of the IFC PS 2 requirements regarding labour conditions.
Risk Category : C
This investment will allow Cofina Mali to support the informal economy in a post-covid context.
Access to full range of banking services to highly underserved MSME segment in a fragile and LDC context.
Support growth of thousands of informal micro-enterprises, which are key drivers for local economic activity, employment, and poverty alleviation
Direct jobs supported and created, as well as the expected doubling of the number of branches by 2025
Innovative and more efficient banking processes and products that are especially adapted to the target MSME segment
Specific credit and saving services for informal micro-entrepreneurs which are the key target of Cofina
Institution strongly motivated to obtain SmartCampaign certification
SPI4 assessment and related recommendations are part of BIO’s ESAP.
E&S improvement measures that will be implemented
Besides these actions, Cofina Mali will be one of the three subsidiaries that will start implementing the E&S action plan agreed between Cofina Group and other DFIs.
Current situation
Cofina Mali is a microfinance institution with the majority of its portfolio oriented towards micro-entrepreneurs. While Cofina Mali currently has no formal E&S policy in place, it already uses an exclusion list as part of the credit manual, which is largely aligned with the EDFI exclusion list. They are also compliant with the majority of the IFC PS 2 requirements regarding labour conditions.
Risk Category : C
Location: Mali, Bamako
Employees: 201-500
Phone: +223 44 90 43 43