Record Investment and Assistance Unlock Microfinance for Women Entrepreneurs
06 November 2026
Major global investors and lending institutions are pumping millions into microfinance platforms focused on women-owned micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the developing world. Fresh capital, guarantees and advisory services aim to reach underserved female business owners and accelerate financial inclusion.
In May 2025, development finance institutions Swedfund, Finnfund, and the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) jointly provided a USD 55 million loan to Indonesian microfinance fintech Amartha. The investment forms part of a broader USD 199 million syndicated facility led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support Amartha's mission of supplying underserved micro-enterprises with affordable credit through technology.
Roughly 97% of Indonesia's workforce is employed by the MSME sector, which faces an estimated financing gap of USD 21 billion, with 44 million micro-enterprises, many led by women in rural areas. The Swedfund-Finnfund-BIO facility is fully targeted to Amartha borrowers, especially the rural women outside Java with the largest financing gaps. Amartha uses a cooperative group lending model to provide loans without collateral to underserved micro-borrowers.
March 2026 saw the IFC partner with global investment platform Fasanara Capital on a USD 100 million initiative to lend to women-owned SMEs in the developing world, with loan amounts averaging USD 50,000. The scheme aims to attract additional private investment as developing‑world borrowers seek solid alternatives.
The IFC is also backing Brazilian cooperative financial institution Sicredi with a USD 250 million investment to expand finance for MSEs, 80% of which to be earmarked for women-led enterprises across the country, and 20% in the Legal Amazon region. About 95% of Brazil's businesses are MSEs, making up 40% of new jobs annually but only receiving 15.5% of total credit. Women-owned MSEs in Brazil face a financing gap of USD 15.8 billion, with just 2.6% accessing formal loans compared to 4.6% of their male-owned peers.
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In India, impact investor Abler Nordic backed a USD 5.7 million investment in Svasti Microfinance in March 2026. Svasti, focused on India's underserved women entrepreneurs, operates 150 branches across seven states and targets low-income women in the informal economy. The fresh capital will build out new loan offerings and expand Svasti's AI-powered SvasTech digital finance platform.
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in 2021 provided USD 25 million in loan portfolio guarantees to Khushhali Microfinance Bank in Pakistan, directed at expanding financial access to women-led microenterprises across the country.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) runs a "Women in Business" program to encourage women-led MSEs through financing, advisory services and training. In 2021, the EBRD extended a loan to Reefy, a microfinance institution, to support privately owned women-led SMEs in Egypt, combined with EU-backed advisory and capacity-building services. A USD 11 million financing package for Kazakhstan's KMF microfinance institution including a USD 6.6 million loan under the Women in Business program was also granted.
These initiatives aim to reach women-led micro and small businesses, many times neglected. Advancing access to affordable finance for this huge segment can contribute to economic growth, generate jobs and empower female entrepreneurs and their families.