- High microfinance costs
- Restricted credit from commercial banks due to lack of collateral or financial history
Women entrepreneurs face additional barriers, including:
- Gender bias within financial institutions
- Limited access to collateral and professional networks
- Cultural and social norms that restrict business development
- The dual burden of managing both domestic and professional duties
Despite their strong involvement in entrepreneurship, women receive less than 10 percent of commercial loans and an even smaller share of equity investment.
Challenges are amplified for green and innovative businesses, which require targeted support due to their essential contributions to climate adaptation, sustainable job creation, and green economic transformation.
Programme Components
The programme is structured around three core components that address systemic barriers preventing women-led businesses from scaling:
Track 1: Investment Readiness
This track focuses on helping early-stage women-led enterprises strengthen their foundations. It offers:
- Tailored advisory services
- Business structuring and formalisation support
- Preparation for future fundraising
- Enhanced management and governance systems
Track 2: Access to Debt
This component aims to facilitate first-time access to credit by providing:
- A dedicated loan guarantee mechanism
- Loans averaging €22,000
- Technical assistance to guide repayment, financial planning, and growth
The combination of debt support and capacity-building allows entrepreneurs to build credit history while growing their businesses.
Track 3: Access to Capital
This track provides flexible financing to support business expansion, including:
- Reimbursable loans averaging €52,000
- Zero interest and no collateral requirements
- Tailored technical assistance to prepare women entrepreneurs for later-stage equity investments
