Become an SME Fashion Champion with IFC
If you are building a bold fashion and lifestyle brand with the ambition to attract investment and scale, while creating quality jobs in Africa, IFC’s Fashion Champions Program may be a good fit. Please read below and see if you meet the criteria.
Accelerating High-Potential SMEs: Weaving a New Future for Jobs and Growth
Africa’s fashion industry is gaining global recognition, with a market projected to exceed $50 billion by 2030 and create millions of jobs if key constraints are addressed. The sector is creating opportunities for designers, manufacturers, and retailers across the continent, particularly for women and young entrepreneurs.
Yet much of this potential remains untapped. Many small-and medium-sized fashion enterprises struggle to scale due to limited access to growth capital, fragmented supply chains, and operational constraints that limit local revenue generation and job creation.
Threads of Opportunity: Unlocking Value Across the Fashion Ecosystem
The fashion and textile sector is one of the world’s largest employment generators. In emerging markets, it represents a critical pathway for industrialization and women’s economic empowerment. Across Africa and other regions:
- Creative enterprises are becoming more structured and commercially viable
- Demand for differentiated design-led products is growing globally
- The sector has strong potential for job creation, especially for women and youth
Why SME Fashion Champions Program?
The SME Fashion Champions Program is IFC’s flagship initiative to identify and support high-potential fashion, design and lifestyle SMEs to become investment-ready, scalable businesses. The program is implemented in partnership with Boston Consulting Group and leading ecosystem actors.
The program focuses on companies that are already:
- Generating meaningful revenues and demonstrating strong growth potential.
- Operating structured businesses and exporting internationally.
The program aims to:
- Build a pipeline of investment-ready creative SMEs
- Strengthen company-level capabilities in governance, operations, and financial management
- Facilitate access to capital, markets, and strategic partnerships
- Support the development of a scalable and investable creative industries ecosystem.
The program is part of IFC’s broader Creative Industries strategy, which aims to demonstrate that the creative sector is both commercially viable and developmentally transformative.
What IFC Looks for in SMEs: Are You a Match?
The program focuses on established SMEs with demonstrated commercial traction in the fashion, design, and lifestyle sectors that meet the following criteria:
- Typically generating annual revenues exceeding US$3 million.
- Have active export operations.
- Demonstrated a clear and consistent growth trajectory spanning over the past three years.
- Show commitment to scaling operations and strengthening governance.
How the Program Works: From Potential to Investment–Ready
Selected companies undergo a comprehensive diagnostic and may benefit from a structured support package combining:
Technical Assistance: Hands-on guidance on operations, corporate governance, financial management, and systems improvement — helping selected SMEs become investor-ready and bankable.
Access to Finance: Successful SMEs may be considered for financing opportunities through IFC and partner institutions, including equity, debt, risk-sharing facilities through IFC’s network of financial institutions and investors, and blended finance structures, where appropriate.
Market and Investor Linkages: Introductions to regional and international buyers, venture funds, and private partners to unlock business opportunities and export markets.
Visibility and Strategic Positioning: Showcasing selected SMEs at global platforms — including curated exhibitions, industry roundtables, and fashion events — to connect designers with international stakeholders, buyers and investors.
Partnering with IFC on this program means it's not just about access to finance. It's also access to knowledge, advisory, and technical skills on how to better our businesses. That is how we can build sustainable businesses.
– Aisha Ayenu, CEO, Christie Brown
Contacts
Last updated: March 2026