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Published 16:23 IST, November 20th 2019

Iconic singer hopes to close financing gap for African women

One of Africa’s iconic artists is the voice of a new project aimed at rewriting laws across the continent that keep millions of women from becoming a more powerful economic force.

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One of Africa’s iconic artists is the voice of a new project aimed at rewriting laws across the continent that keep millions of women from becoming a more powerful economic force.

Singer Angelique Kidjo is helping the African Development Bank launch an effort to close a $42 billion financing gap in a region where one in four women starts or manages a business. That’s the world’s highest female entrepreneurship rate.

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In an interview with The Associated Press, Kidjo described hearing from women in vibrant marketplaces who wished they had the means to do more.

The G-7 group of major democracies has committed $250 million to the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa.

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With the continent’s 1.2 billion population expected to double by 2050, the pressure for growth is huge.

16:22 IST, November 20th 2019