ANANSE AFRICA VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLES
The Fashion Financing Paradox
Financing Pathways for Africa’s Fashion & Design MSMEs
26 November 2025
10:00 DAKAR | 11:00 LAGOS | 12:00 CAPE TOWN | 13:00 NAIROBI
The Fashion Financing Paradox
Financing Pathways for Africa’s Fashion & Design MSMEs
📅 26 November 2025 | 🕙 11:00 WAT (UTC+1)
Africa's creative and cultural industries represent a vast, yet largely untapped, economic frontier. While projections suggest the sector could be worth over $200 billion USD and create 20 million jobs annually by 2030, this potential is stifled by a critical financing gap.
A systemic paradox persists: the sector, dominated by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), operates in the financial shadows. A recent survey by Ananse revealed that 71% of creatives earn less than $250 a month, highlighting a deep-seated exclusion from traditional financial systems.
This roundtable will explore how innovative financing models can unlock the growth potential of creative MSMEs. By scrutinising both systemic barriers and emerging solutions, we will ask a central question: can traditional finance adapt, or must new, scalable models be established to bridge the gap and allow Africa's creative entrepreneurs to thrive?
Themes for the coming Roundtable
Reimagining Traditional Finance: What role can blended finance and innovative risk-sharing mechanisms—such as guarantee schemes or credit-scoring built on intangible assets—play in bridging the capital gap?
Enhancing Bankability and Financial Literacy: How can digital platforms and capacity-building programmes be scaled to prepare creative entrepreneurs for formal financing?
The Role of Policy and Development: How can public-private partnerships be leveraged to create a more supportive ecosystem, from intellectual property protection to market access?
Platforms as Catalysts for Capital: How do models like the 'Cash Advance' facility provide a proof of concept for leveraging working capital and building a track record where traditional banks have failed to engage?
Scaling Innovative Solutions: What are the key regulatory, technological, and cross-border challenges that must be overcome to achieve true continental impact?
REGISTRATION FORM
Ananse Virtual Rountables
Conversations Shaping Africa's Creative Landscape
The conversations within Ananse Virtual Rountables are not simply about what is happening, but why and how it matters. Each session is a deep dive into a specific facet of the creative economy, treating it as a dynamic system ripe for analysis and intervention. We aim to produce not just talking points, but actionable intelligence.
The roundtables are being convened by Ananse Africa in collaboration with the research & advisory partner, Botho Emerging Markets Group and in partnership with African Business.