This paper from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation emphasizes the need to reform development finance systems to ensure women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa gain access to affordable, productive capital. It argues that despite high levels of entrepreneurship and labor participation among African women, many remain excluded from formal credit due to fragmentation in financial systems and limited access to capital. The paper outlines how linking macro-level resource mobilization with tailored, on-the-ground credit interventions can help women build resilience, expand their businesses, and contribute to equitable economic growth. It underscores the role of public–private coordination, digitisation, and stronger market infrastructure in unlocking this potential.