IFC provides financial products and advisory services to increase access to finance for women entrepreneurs, reduce gender-based barriers in the business environment, and improve the sustainability of IFC investment products.
Access to global expertise, research, and best practices means that IFC can take a broad approach to creating value for private sector clients and shareholder governments.
Access to Finance: IFC helps banks profitably serve the women's market. We provide financing for on-lending to female entrepreneurs, and use best practices from the Global Banking Alliance for Women to analyze the local women's market, advise on appropriate financial products and collateral options, and train our clients' employees and female borrowers.
Business Enabling Environment: IFC helps governments understand the gender dimensions of business reform and growth. Work includes assessments on barriers that women face in doing business, surveys, and capacity building for women's groups to advocate for change.
Value Added to Firms: IFC helps companies strengthen stakeholder relations, corporate responsibility records and overall performance by ensuring that local women can benefit from IFC's investment projects. We provide gender-focused assessment tools to highlight potential risks and benefits to women, plus advice on how to mitigate risk and create new opportunities for women.
Women's Entrepreneurship in Conflict-Affected Societies: IFC promotes women in business also in conflict-affected societies, recognizing that women's entrepreneurship is often crucial for the effective reconstruction and sustainable development of fragile economies.