EIB Global Provides €7.5 Million to Centenary Bank Malawi to Boost Agricultural Lending and Women's Empowerment
EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank Group, is providing €7.5 million to Centenary Bank Malawi. This financing aims to strengthen lending to smallholder farmers and micro agri-food enterprises in Malawi. A significant portion of this funding is strategically allocated: 50% is earmarked to promote sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture, and the other 50% is dedicated to advancing the economic empowerment of women in the country. This initiative is part of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which seeks to create new financing opportunities for Malawi’s agricultural sector. The goal is to address rural poverty in Malawi, where agriculture accounts for over 70% of employment, and where small-scale farmers and agri-businesses often face limited access to finance. Additionally, women entrepreneurs, who are central to the agricultural value chains, encounter persistent gender-specific barriers to financial access. The EIB Global loan is complemented by a comprehensive tec...
