Global Facility for Women Entrepreneurs

pending

The project is part of IFC’s response to the global need to support and strengthen the underserved sector with the aim of supporting job creation and economic growth. Since 2010, IFC’s Banking on Women (“BoW”) program has played an important role in establishing the women’s market as a key underserved sector, through investments in relationship Financial Institutions as well as partnerships with multinational corporations, with the shared goal of promoting economic security for women entrepreneurs. IFC is exploring financing solutions for women entrepreneurs in partnership with Goldman Sachs Foundation (“GSF”), with the goals of increasing access to finance for women-owned SMEs in emerging markets globally, and further demonstrating the commercial viability of investing in such women by mobilizing funding from other investors and donors. IFC will invest up to US$100 million in the Facility. GSF intends to provide funding for junior tranche investments and advisory services.