Women Entrepreneurs Leveraging Innovative Finance in Tonga

proposed

The Women Entrepreneurs Leveraging Innovative Finance in Tonga (WE-LIFT) Project is a $9 million initiative financed through the Asian Development Fund's SDG 5: Transformative Gender Agenda pool. The project aims to unlock access to finance for women entrepreneurs by introducing gender-responsive financing instruments and investing in tailored business development services. It will support women-owned and led micro and small enterprises to transition into formal, growth-oriented businesses by addressing barriers across the finance and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The project is aligned with ADB's Strategy 2030 priorities on gender equality, inclusive growth, and institutional strengthening. It is also consistent with (i) Tonga's Strategic Development Framework, 20152025, which prioritizes inclusive and resilient economic growth, private sector development, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups, including women; and (ii) Tonga's National Financial Inclusion Strategy, 20232027, which aims to improve financial inclusion through strengthened credit infrastructure, gender-responsive financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and collection of sex-disaggregated data.