Despite their potential to drive economic growth in the Caribbean, women-owned or led micro, small and medium enterprises (WMSMEs) face barriers that create a significant financing gap, hampering their ability to scale and build economic resilience. Similar disparities in access to finance are found globally and are rooted in issues such as traditional banking models, restrictive collateral requirements and unconscious gender biases. Closing this financing gap is an economic imperative, with measurable gains to GDP when women gain increased access to finance.
This study examines four countries: The Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. It seeks to help fill the research gap on WMSMEs in the region, identify the financing challenges and opportunities they face and propose strategies to expand investment and growth.
This ICReport distils the findings of a flagship study prepared by the ICR Facility for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). That study is available in full here.
The original study, written by DevSolutions Consulting LLC, was commissioned to generate high-quality data and evidence on women-owned and led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (WMSMEs) in the Caribbean and to provide recommendations for building an enabling ecosystem to support their growth. Recognising the richness of the original research, this shorter report highlights the key lessons learned, data insights and distinctive Caribbean perspectives most relevant to development practitioners, policy-makers, financial institutions and other stakeholders seeking clear, actionable insights.