Kinshasa, September 16, 2025 – Rawbank, a leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formalizes its commitment alongside the Congolese Government within the framework of the COPA-TRANSFORME program, a project co-financed by the International Development Association (IDA) aimed at structuring and strengthening the ecosystem of micro, small and medium enterprises, with a particular focus on those led by women.
As a financial partner of the program, Rawbank provides its expertise, banking solutions, and network of branches to:
- Facilitate access to financing for SMEs, especially women-owned ones;
- Enhance entrepreneurial skills through targeted training;
- Support business growth by offering tailored tools.
This initiative is fully aligned with Rawbank’s corporate social responsibility strategy, which prioritizes economic inclusion and women’s empowerment.
“COPA-TRANSFORME is an opportunity to structurally organize the Congolese entrepreneurial fabric. By supporting women entrepreneurs, we contribute to building a more resilient, modern, and equitable economy,”Christian Kamanzi, Deputy General Manager Administration & Risk, Rawbank
Concrete impact expected over 5 years
The program aims to:
- Support over 15,000 SMEs across the country;
- Create 28,000 direct jobs;
- Train 42,000 beneficiaries through competitive grants and personalized support.
Rawbank thus reaffirms its commitment alongside national and international institutions to make women’s entrepreneurship a driver of sustainable economic transformation in the DRC.
About RAWBANK
For 23 years, with total assets of $6.2 billion, Rawbank has been supporting the development of the Congolese economy. As the leading bank in the DRC for 12 years, Rawbank offers the most modern products and services to its 500,000+ Corporate, SME, and Individual clients through a network of over 100 branches in 19 provinces of the country, a digital offering with Illicocash, internet banking, and over 250 ATMs.
Its actions have been recognized with the African Bankers Award 2022 and 2024 for the best regional bank in Central Africa, a Moody’s CAA 1 rating, ISO/IEC 20000 and ISO/IEC 27001 certifications. Partners who trust RAWBANK include IFC, AfDB, TDB, BADEA, Shelter Africa, AGF, etc.
Partners who trust RAWBANK include: AfDB, AGF, IFC, BADEA, Shelter Africa, TDB, and Afrexim. For more information, visit our website: www.rawbank.com
