Publish Date: 29 June 2017
Running a women-owned business in male dominant industry presents its
own set of challenges. Women entrepreneurs and employers face significantly
greater challenges than men in gaining access to financial services. Provisions
of collateral against loan, conservative societal perception, limited access to
knowledge and financial institutions are some of the salient issues that
prevent women from fully participating in economy.
USAID’s Promote: Women in the Economy (WIE) program has developed a
loan referral mechanism where women-owned businesses or businesses that employ
at least 10 percent of female workforce are identified, educated and supported
to acquire financial services. WIE identifies qualified women entrepreneurs and
employers in need of financial support and assists them in preparing required
documentations to secure investment loans. After thorough screening, these
businesses are referred to the preselected pool of financial institutions
WIE was able to assist Lian*, the owner of a home-based
pickle production business, in securing a loan of 50,000 AFN. To provide for
her family, she produces pickle, spaghetti, and jam at home and sells it in the
local market. “In Ramadan, such products have high demand,” remarked Lian. “I
never had enough capital to grow my business but this loan will definitely turn
my business around for good. I will be able to double my production during
Ramadan and grow my business in no time.”