ACCA: Women in finance across Africa increasingly eye entrepreneurship – survey
Human Rights Reporters
3 min read
Jamil Ampomah, Director for Africa at Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), says a growing number of women in finance and accountancy across the continent are increasingly turning to entrepreneurship as a pathway to innovation, independence and economic impact.
Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day 2026, Ampomah said the shift reflects how professional accounting skills are becoming a powerful launchpad for business ownership among women, particularly younger professionals.
“The drive towards entrepreneurship across the region is especially evident among younger finance professionals,” Ampomah said.
“They see accountancy as more than a technical discipline; it is a launchpad for innovation, independence, and impact.”
He added that while more progress is still needed to achieve gender parity, current trends suggest that the profession is increasingly helping to unlock entrepreneurial potential at scale.
Ampomah’s remarks come as ACCA released early findings from its forthcoming Global Talent Trends 2026 report, which indicates that women’s entrepreneurial ambitions are rising worldwide.
According to the survey of more than 11,000 finance professionals across 175 countries, about 84% of women working in finance and accountancy now aspire to become entrepreneurs, up from 77% in the previous year.
The findings suggest growing confidence among women in leveraging finance and accounting expertise to build their own enterprises.
Africa already leads globally in female entrepreneurship. Studies indicate that roughly one in four adult women on the continent runs a business, representing about 25–26% of women, the highest rate globally.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, about 20% of working-age women are involved in entrepreneurial activity, while women account for roughly 58% of the self-employed population, a proportion higher than any other region in the world.
Despite these gains, women entrepreneurs still face major challenges in accessing finance. Women-owned small businesses are estimated to face a $1.7 trillion global credit gap, while nearly 700 million women worldwide remain underserved by the financial sector.
Chief Executive of ACCA, Helen Brand, said the rise in entrepreneurial ambition signals the growing economic empowerment of women through professional training.
“Entrepreneurship represents economic empowerment in action,” Brand said. “Finance and accountancy skills are equipping women not only to lead within organisations, but also to build enterprises of their own.”
She noted that accounting offers a strong foundation for business success because it combines financial expertise with governance, risk management, technology and strategic insight.
Brand stressed that supporting women to turn entrepreneurial ambition into viable businesses is essential not only for gender equality but also for broader economic growth.
The report further shows that more than half of finance professionals believe their accounting background provides a strong advantage for entrepreneurial careers.
Ambitions are particularly strong among Generation Z and Millennial professionals; many of whom say they aspire to launch their own businesses in the future.
The findings also reflect a broader transformation within the accountancy profession, with many professionals seeking careers aligned with purpose, social impact, environmental sustainability and greater personal autonomy.
This year’s observance of International Women’s Day is held under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls.”
ACCA said empowering women entrepreneurs globally could significantly boost economic development through increased job creation, innovation and productivity.
Founded in 1904, ACCA is a global professional accountancy body supporting more than 257,900 members and 530,100 future members across 180 countries, providing qualifications and insights aimed at strengthening ethical and sustainable finance leadership worldwide.
By Joseph Kobla Wemakor
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