Source: Bankable
Rawbank, the leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023 in terms of activity, enabled several “ambassadors” from its Lady’s First program to participate in the second edition of the Francophone Africa Business Summit, held from February 18 to 19, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. This rather unique event aims to build bridges between the francophone and anglophone economies of sub-Saharan Africa.
“The DRC is almost always viewed through the lens of its key role in the energy transition. With our ambassadors, we wanted them to not only engage with economic players beyond the francophone space, but also share their experiences in their respective sectors,” said Laurence Feza, head of structuring with development finance institutions at Rawbank, who led the delegation of Congolese women entrepreneurs.
During the forum, the Lady’s First ambassadors participated in a dedicated discussion among African women entrepreneurs. They also presented the opportunities offered by the Congolese economy to potential investors and business leaders from Nigeria, as well as from other countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso.
“We received many inquiries to better understand the Congolese market. We approached these players by explaining that there was a strong demand for information. Their response was immediate. Rawbank, like other Congolese stakeholders, sees this event as a strategic opportunity—not only to facilitate access to information, but also to strengthen connections between local actors and regional investors,” explained Johanna Monthe, managing partner at Epena Law, and one of the organizers of the event alongside other partners.
In the DRC, according to the World Bank, 62% of women are part of the labor force. They represent about 70% of the agricultural workforce, according to the FAO. Rawbank’s Lady’s First program thus plays an essential role in supporting these women entrepreneurs. Its Lady’s First Business Club brings together women leaders and entrepreneurs around a principle of mutual support and co-mentoring. This network is open to all, whether they are clients of the bank or not.
