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Financial Inclusion that Works for Women: The European Microfinance Award 2022
Lending to women clients has been at the center of microfinance since its modern inception. And as Joana Afonso, Gabriela Erice, Sam Mendelson and Daniel Rozas at the European Microfinance Platform point out, there has undoubtedly been progress in promoting women’s financial inclusion. But they argue that a myopic focus on outreach too often undermines the sector's understanding of the specific barriers women face. They discuss how the 2022 European Microfinance Award's focus on “Financial Inclusion that Works for Women" aims to encourage more effective gender strategies.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance
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Boosting STEM Training for African Women: Why Tech-Related Skills are Key to the Continent’s Progress
As the world becomes more reliant on digital technology, the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) training is growing. But as Rachita Sharma at Girl Power Talk explains, there's a wide STEM skills gap between men and women – including in sub-Saharan Africa, where women’s lack of technical skills is undermining their capacity to achieve their economic potential. She explores some of the challenges that are preventing African women from pursuing STEM-related job skills or careers, and discusses some solutions to these issues.
- Categories
- Education, Entrepreneurship, Technology
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Analysis: COVID Has Intensified Gender Inequalities, Global Study Finds
Researchers find women hit harder by negative social and economic impacts of the pandemic than men.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care
- Region
- Global
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Press Release: DFC Approves 11 Values-Based Investments Totaling Nearly $364 Million to Address Climate Change, Promote Gender Equity, and Improve Healthcare throughout the Developing World
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Board of Directors has approved $245 million in investments this quarter that address the climate crisis through innovation and climate-smart urban infrastructure and elevate businesses with loans and professional business management practices throughout Africa.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Deconstructing the Monolith: Why Understanding Women’s Individual Needs is Key to Closing the Gender Gap in Financial Inclusion
How can financial service providers tailor their products to boost women's financial inclusion? Scott Graham and Anahit Tevosyan at FINCA discuss the findings of a survey of 2,800 financial consumers in the DRC, which showed – perhaps counterintuitively – that focusing on gender as the defining characteristic of a female client is exactly the wrong approach. They explore why it's necessary to “deconstruct the monolith” of female clients by digging into sub-segments of the market to understand their specific needs and constraints.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance
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AgDevCo Secures $90 Million of DFI Funding to Further Invest in African Agribusinesses to Deliver Jobs, Incomes, and Food
AgDevCo announced a $90m package of new funding from the CDC Group, Norfund and DFC which will allow AgDevCo to continue to grow its investment activities in agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Power of Women in Cocoa: Supporting Female Farmers Could Boost Liberia’s Access to Lucrative Premium Markets
Women farmers are essential to the production and trade of cocoa in West Africa, and often comprise a majority of the farming workforce. But as Sabine Garbarino, Amelia Duggan and Kim Beevers at GROW Liberia explain, women's importance to the sector is not always recognized, despite the key role they play in maximizing the quality of cocoa beans. They explore how the work of female farmers drives the cocoa industry in Liberia – and why efforts to support these farmers can open the door to more lucrative market segments and greater social impact.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Entrepreneurship
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Changing the Gatekeepers: Why Female Fund Managers Are the Key to Unlocking More Inclusive Capital
Greater access to capital could boost the financial empowerment of women entrepreneurs. Yet as Melanie de Nysschen at SAVCA and Yeabsira Zewdie at MiDA Advisors point out, women comprise just 11% of senior investment professionals in emerging markets – the people who serve as gatekeepers to capital. Since women investors are significantly more likely to support female entrepreneurs, they explore the impact of increasing women's presence among investment professionals, and share insights from interviews with female fund managers in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana that highlight their biggest challenges.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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