Coris Bank International (Coris Bank), the Burkina Faso-based financial services group founded by banking tycoon Idrissa Nassa, is set to receive an estimated advisory support of $575,000 from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group, to help expand SME financing in Burkina Faso and strengthen its capacity to finance very small, small, and medium enterprises, with a focus on women-led businesses and agricultural value chains.

The advisory project, with an estimated start date of July 15, 2026, is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2029, and is designed to improve access to finance for businesses that play a central role in Burkina Faso’s economy but often face barriers to formal lending. The initiative has an estimated budget of $575,000 and is expected to run until June 30, 2029.

IFC targets women-led businesses and agricultural enterprises

The project aims to expand sustainable financing for very small, small and medium enterprises (VSMEs), particularly women-owned and women-led businesses and enterprises operating in agricultural value chains.

Through the initiative, IFC will help CBI strengthen its ability to originate, manage and monitor loans to smaller businesses. The support aims to strengthen the bank’s institutional capacity and establish a more systematic approach to VSME lending. Agricultural enterprises are a particular focus, reflecting the project’s objective of improving financing access for businesses connected to agricultural production and value chains.

Eight modules to strengthen bank capacity

Over the 36-month engagement, IFC will provide advisory support across eight integrated modules covering the bank’s VSME strategy and business model, product development, women-led VSME banking, non-financial services, credit risk management, staff capacity building, financial management training for VSMEs and agricultural finance.

The programme will help CBI refine how it serves smaller businesses, develop relevant financial products, and strengthen the processes needed to assess and manage lending risks.

It will also address the capacity of bank employees and business customers. Staff training is expected to strengthen the bank’s internal capabilities, while financial management training for VSMEs is intended to help business owners improve their understanding of financial management.

The inclusion of non-financial services and women-focused banking also signals an approach that extends beyond conventional lending, although the project disclosure does not specify individual products or implementation targets.

Coris Bank’s influence

Founded in 2008 in Ouagadougou by Idrissa Nassa, Coris Bank has rapidly evolved, with operations across Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Togo, Senegal, Benin, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and Chad. Before, Coris was a small Burkina Faso lender with just $3 million in capital, but Nassa steered the banking group into a regional powerhouse with over $9 billion in assets.

Today, Coris Bank International Senegal operates a network of 24 branches and serves more than 70,000 clients across retail, corporate, and SME segments. Its shareholder base includes the Government of Senegal alongside Coris Group entities such as Coris Holdings and Coris Bourse. The lender has also diversified into conventional banking and Islamic finance offerings as it seeks to broaden financial inclusion across the market.

The project approved by IFC on August 20, 2026, is expected to strengthen CBI’s ability to build and maintain a sustainable VSME lending portfolio through improved institutional capacity and more structured lending practices. With an estimated total budget of $575,000, the advisory engagement is focused on building the bank’s capacity to serve smaller businesses over the long term.