The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, is reviewing a €21 million loan (about CFA13.8 billion) for Gozem to support its expansion across Benin, Cameroon, Togo, and the Republic of Congo. The project was disclosed on April 27, 2026, on the IFC’s project portal.
The financing is intended to back Gozem’s growth between 2026 and 2028. The startup operates a digital platform combining ride-hailing, delivery, vehicle financing, and payment services.
According to the IFC, the proposed structure includes €8 million in direct financing (about CFA5.25 billion), another €8 million in subordinated debt mobilized through concessional mechanisms linked to IDA21, and €5 million expected from other investors.
The project comes in a fragmented and competitive market. In urban mobility, Gozem competes with platforms such as Yango, as well as traditional taxis and motorcycle taxis that dominate daily transport.
In delivery, payments, and “super-app” services, competition extends to telecom operators, fintechs, and digital platforms including Orange Max it, OPay, Jumia, M-Pesa, Vodapay, and MTN Ayoba, all developing integrated mobile and financial services.
For Gozem, the challenge goes beyond expanding a ride-hailing service. It must build an ecosystem that can retain drivers, merchants, and end users.
The operation builds on an existing relationship between Gozem and IFC. In 2022, the two announced a $10 million financing package (about CFA5.6 billion) to help 6,000 motorcycle taxi drivers access vehicles in Togo and Benin.
Gozem, present in Cameroon since 2021, says it has nearly one million users across West and Central Africa. IFC data indicates the platform recorded about one million trips per month in 2025 across its mobility and delivery services.
Brice R. Mbodiam
