The European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) is delighted to announce the publication of Financial Inclusion that Works for Women, the latest in its annual series of publications that condense the themes and pull together the outstanding cases and factors for success from that year’s European Microfinance Award (EMA).
Financial Inclusion that Works for Women, which was launched during the recent EMW2022, opens with a tour of a complex and emerging landscape of gender mainstreaming - a short history of microfinance for women, the demand- and supply-side barriers they face, and the role that FSPs can play in addressing these challenges. The second part details the Award process itself – its objectives, scope, eligibility criteria, and evaluation processes. The third (and main) part of the paper presents the 10 semi-finalists (and among them the 3 finalists) as case studies, within three broad approaches that FSPs can take: Meeting women's needs through financial products and services; Mainstreaming gender equity and leadership within the institution; and Empowering women with non-financial services. Financial Inclusion that Works for Women concludes with the 'Factors for Success' that have emerged over this almost year-long evaluation process: what distinguishes the ten exceptional initiatives profiled within it, and how can other organisations replicate their success?
We at e-MFP are very proud of this year’s Award, with its record number of applications, and the paper - the quality and diversity of all the applicants’ initiatives has ensured a rich exchange of best practices and lessons learned over the course of this year. Thanks must go to Luxembourg’s Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and all the members of the Selection Committee and the High Jury who gave their time and expertise to take part in a rigorous evaluation process.
Read the report here
View the EMW2022 plenary session recording here
Financial Inclusion that Works for Women, which was launched during the recent EMW2022, opens with a tour of a complex and emerging landscape of gender mainstreaming - a short history of microfinance for women, the demand- and supply-side barriers they face, and the role that FSPs can play in addressing these challenges. The second part details the Award process itself – its objectives, scope, eligibility criteria, and evaluation processes. The third (and main) part of the paper presents the 10 semi-finalists (and among them the 3 finalists) as case studies, within three broad approaches that FSPs can take: Meeting women's needs through financial products and services; Mainstreaming gender equity and leadership within the institution; and Empowering women with non-financial services. Financial Inclusion that Works for Women concludes with the 'Factors for Success' that have emerged over this almost year-long evaluation process: what distinguishes the ten exceptional initiatives profiled within it, and how can other organisations replicate their success?
We at e-MFP are very proud of this year’s Award, with its record number of applications, and the paper - the quality and diversity of all the applicants’ initiatives has ensured a rich exchange of best practices and lessons learned over the course of this year. Thanks must go to Luxembourg’s Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and all the members of the Selection Committee and the High Jury who gave their time and expertise to take part in a rigorous evaluation process.
Read the report here
View the EMW2022 plenary session recording here