For the 2026 fiscal year, the draft budget for the Ministry of Microfinance and the Social and Solidarity Economy is set at 7,809,189,616 FCFA in commitment authorizations (CA) and 7,727,939,616 FCFA in payment appropriations (PA). These resources are allocated to three major programs covering administrative management, strengthening microfinance, and developing the social and solidarity economy.

 

Program 1569 concerns the management, coordination, and administration of the ministry. The allocated funds for this program amount to 908,556,175 FCFA in commitment appropriations (AE) and 902,306,175 FCFA in payment appropriations (CP). The breakdown by type of expenditure is as follows: personnel expenses (466,489,000 FCFA), acquisition of goods and services (379,567,175 FCFA), and investments executed by the State (62,500,000 FCFA in AE and 56,250,000 FCFA in CP). This program primarily aims to ensure the functioning of administrative services, the coordination of public policies, and good governance within the ministry.

 

Program 2012 is dedicated to strengthening microfinance. It is the largest-funded program, with a budget of 4,454,816,351 FCFA in commitment appropriations (CA) and 4,384,816,351 FCFA in payment appropriations (PA). The funds are allocated as follows: personnel expenses (93,969,000 FCFA), goods and services (52,205,475 FCFA), current transfers (2,768,681,876 FCFA), and investments executed by the State (1,539,960,000 FCFA in CA and 1,469,960,000 FCFA in PA). This program aims to strengthen microfinance institutions, support beneficiaries, and promote financial inclusion through targeted financing and investments.

 

Program 2118 takes into account the development of the social and solidarity economy. For this program, the appropriations are set at 2,445,817,090 FCFA in commitment appropriations (AE) and 2,440,817,090 FCFA in payment appropriations (CP). The breakdown is as follows: personnel expenses (124,675,000 FCFA), acquisitions of goods and services (115,185,090 FCFA), current transfers (1,000,000,000 FCFA), and investments executed by the State (1,205,957,000 FCFA in AE and 1,200,957,000 FCFA in CP). This program aims to support cooperatives, community organizations, and all initiatives within the social and solidarity economy.

 

A focus on local economic impact

 

The structure of the 2026 budget for the Ministry of Microfinance and the Social and Solidarity Economy reflects a clear priority given to strengthening microfinance, which accounts for more than half of total resources. The development of the social and solidarity economy also benefits from significant support, particularly through investments and current transfers. However, the relatively modest size of the overall budget, less than 8 billion FCFA, raises questions about the Ministry's actual capacity to address the scale of the challenges related to combating poverty, financing income-generating activities, and empowering vulnerable populations economically.