KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo - A new partnership between FINCA RDC and the government-led, World Bank-supported TRANSFORME project is moving 1,018 Congolese entrepreneurs closer to receiving grants awarded through the COPA-TRANSFORME business-plan competition.
The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa on August 6 to organise the disbursement and management of financial support intended for selected new enterprises.
Under the agreement, TRANSFORME will make the grant resources available through FINCA, while the microfinance institution will open accounts for beneficiaries, facilitate the transfer of funds and provide financial guidance to help entrepreneurs manage the support responsibly.
The agreement is an important implementation milestone. It connects an entrepreneurship competition to a financial network capable of turning approved support into business capital for Congolese founders.
From Selection to a Practical Grant Channel
The 1,018 beneficiaries have already been selected through the COPA-TRANSFORME process. The agreement does not launch a new call for applications. Instead, it establishes the mechanism through which the approved grants are expected to reach those entrepreneurs.
That distinction matters. Winning or being selected for a business-support programme is only one stage. Entrepreneurs also need a secure account, clear procedures and financial support that helps them convert grant money into productive investment.
The FINCA–TRANSFORME arrangement is designed to provide that bridge.
No individual grant amount or complete disbursement calendar was announced with the signing. The confirmed milestone is that the institutional channel for the 1,018 selected entrepreneurs has now been established.
Why FINCA’s Network Matters
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT
DRC: FINCA-TRANSFORME Grants for 1,018 DRC Entrepreneurs
Aug 7, 2026
Aug 7, 2026
6 min read
Published
Updated:
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo - A new partnership between FINCA RDC and the government-led, World Bank-supported TRANSFORME project is moving 1,018 Congolese entrepreneurs closer to receiving grants awarded through the COPA-TRANSFORME business-plan competition.
The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa on August 6 to organise the disbursement and management of financial support intended for selected new enterprises.
Under the agreement, TRANSFORME will make the grant resources available through FINCA, while the microfinance institution will open accounts for beneficiaries, facilitate the transfer of funds and provide financial guidance to help entrepreneurs manage the support responsibly.
The agreement is an important implementation milestone. It connects an entrepreneurship competition to a financial network capable of turning approved support into business capital for Congolese founders.
From Selection to a Practical Grant Channel
The 1,018 beneficiaries have already been selected through the COPA-TRANSFORME process. The agreement does not launch a new call for applications. Instead, it establishes the mechanism through which the approved grants are expected to reach those entrepreneurs.
That distinction matters. Winning or being selected for a business-support programme is only one stage. Entrepreneurs also need a secure account, clear procedures and financial support that helps them convert grant money into productive investment.
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The FINCA–TRANSFORME arrangement is designed to provide that bridge.
Stage | What it means for beneficiaries |
COPA selection | 1,018 new enterprises have been identified as beneficiaries through the TRANSFORME competition |
Partnership signed | TRANSFORME and FINCA now have a formal framework for managing the grants |
FINCA accounts | Beneficiaries will receive their grants through accounts opened with FINCA RDC |
Financial guidance | Entrepreneurs will receive support intended to strengthen responsible management, saving and investment |
Business growth | The grants and related services are intended to help young enterprises develop their activities and create economic value |
No individual grant amount or complete disbursement calendar was announced with the signing. The confirmed milestone is that the institutional channel for the 1,018 selected entrepreneurs has now been established.
Why FINCA’s Network Matters
FINCA RDC was selected as a financial institution with a proximity network capable of serving entrepreneurs across the areas targeted by the programme.
The institution has operated in the DRC since 2003 and reports a network of 23 branches and approximately 1,700 FINCA Express banking agents. That footprint can help bring formal financial services closer to entrepreneurs who may be using a regulated financial institution for the first time.
The partnership covers beneficiaries in Kinshasa, the Kongo Central corridor, including Matadi, as well as Bunia, Mbuji-Mayi and Kananga.
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For young businesses outside the capital, proximity is critical. A financial partner with branches and agent banking points can reduce the distance between a national programme and the entrepreneurs it is intended to support.
FINCA is also expected to offer relevant financial and non-financial products according to beneficiary needs. These may include business credit, savings tools, payment services and digital financial solutions that can extend the value of the original grant.
A Stronger Path for Women and Young Enterprises
TRANSFORME is formally known as the Project for the Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Upgrading of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for Economic Transformation and Employment.
The programme is led by the Congolese government with World Bank support and places particular emphasis on women-owned and women-led businesses. The World Bank approved $300 million for TRANSFORME with the broader goals of strengthening new and existing enterprises, expanding access to finance and supporting job creation.
The FINCA agreement falls under the programme component supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including new businesses operating for less than three years.
This focus is important because many promising Congolese businesses begin with strong ideas and local demand but remain limited by insufficient capital, weak financial records or a lack of access to formal banking services.
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By combining grant support with account ownership and financial guidance, the programme can help beneficiaries build more structured businesses. For women entrepreneurs in particular, greater access to finance can strengthen economic independence, household resilience and participation in Congo’s formal economy.
A Government Strategy Focused on Congolese Enterprise
The agreement advances the government’s effort to make entrepreneurship a practical pillar of economic transformation.
Rather than treating small businesses only as survival activities, TRANSFORME positions micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as engines of production, innovation and employment. The programme links public leadership, international development financing and Congolese financial institutions around the needs of local entrepreneurs.
The arrival of FINCA as TRANSFORME’s first microfinance partner expands an existing network that included seven commercial banks. It gives the programme an additional channel specifically suited to micro and young enterprises, including businesses that may not yet fit the traditional commercial-banking model.
For the 1,018 selected entrepreneurs, the August 6 signing signals movement from competition results toward implementation. For the wider economy, it demonstrates how government programmes and financial institutions can work together to connect Congolese talent with the capital and services needed to grow.
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