Country
Tajikistan

Local project partners
IMON International,
Eskhata Bank,
Arvand Bank,
HUMO,
First Microfinance Bank of Tajikistan (FMBT)

German project partner
IPC GmbH

Donor
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Duration
01.07.2017 - 01.07.2021

A major obstacle to development in Tajikistan is the low level of lending to women by financial institutions, even though more than 20% of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are run by women. Although women are generally accepted by society, financial institutions do not yet pay sufficient attention to them as a market segment. Especially outside the capital, women entrepreneurs lack access to credit, and basic economic knowledge is often lacking.

The project aims to promote Women in Business (WiB) through education, training and access to credit. Intensive consulting of local financial institutions in the support of women in business as well as gender sensitization trainings of bank staff ensure that the approach is sustainable and will be continued after the end of the project.

Project Tasks

• Conduct an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of financial institutions regarding their suitability for providing services to small and medium-sized women entrepreneurs.
• Creation and development of suitable organizational structures, business models, strategies, and processes to support financial institutions in starting, continuing or expanding efficient lending to the target group.
• Implementation of comprehensive capacity-building measures - training and coaching, development of internal training capacities
• Development of credit products with a high proportion of financial and economic education for women