ICR 2020-2025 wrapped: Access to Finance

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This leaflet provides you with a short overview of the ICR Facility’s approach to Access to Finance and how we put that in practice through a selection of interventions.

The leaflet shares key lessons for practitioners and an overview of our reports on this subject.

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You may also be interested in these ICReports

Access to finance for women-owned and led MSMEs in the Caribbean

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 […]

Flagship Study: Access to Finance for Women-led MSMEs in the Caribbean

The ICR Facility conducted a study for the Caribbean Development Bank to reduce the research gap in the Caribbean MSME sector, enhance the understanding of the needs and opportunities for Women-led MSMEs (WMSMEs) to increase their access to finance and identify measures to unlock investments. Find the summarised findings in this report. Read the […]

How DFIs in ACP Countries Use Alternative Collateral: Trends and Impact on Access to Finance for Women-Owned SMEs

Across ACP countries, access to finance remains a major barrier for women-owned SMEs – often due to limited access to traditional forms of collateral. This study explores how Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are increasingly using alternative forms of collateral, such as movable assets, receivables, and warehouse receipts. While these tools have not yet been deployed with […]

Enhancing Access to Finance for Women-Owned Enterprises

Women’s economic empowerment is key to ensuring that women not only enjoy equal rights and liberties but also, that they are able to contribute to a nation’s socio- economic progress. Beyond the subject of social justice, women’s economic empowerment is also recognised as a critical driver of sustainable economic growth When women are […]

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Empowering Women in Trade: Lessons from the Dominican Republic, Kenya, and Tanzania

Coordinated institutional support services, tailored skills development, better data and finance with a gender lens can generate stable women exporters Across Africa and the Caribbean, women entrepreneurs are the backbone of many local economies—but too often they are held back by complex regulations, high costs, and fragmented support. Three recent Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility […]

Rethinking Regulation to Enhance the Impact of DFIs in Southern Africa

Development Finance institutions (DFIs) play a vital role in addressing market failures and delivering public policy objectives. They drive sustainable investment, fund infrastructure projects and fill financing gaps overlooked by the private sector. But what if the regulations that govern DFIs prevent them from funding clients they are supposed to serve? And how might the […]

Advancing Women Traders’ Financial Inclusion And the Digital Economy Leveraging FinTech: An Opportunity for The Gambia

The Gambia stands at a crucial crossroads in its journey towards a cash-lite economy that enables a thriving digital ecosystem. The implementation of the National Strategy for Leveraging FinTech to Drive Financial Inclusion for Women Cross-Border Traders, developed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry Regional Integration, and Employment (MoTIE) with the support of the […]

Boosting the financial success of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria

With approximately 223 million people, Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and has the largest economy, with its entrepreneurs and their enterprises the engine of the economy. They account for roughly 96% of all businesses (most of which are micro, small and medium enterprises, also known as MSMEs) and 33% are owned by […]

You may also be interested in these event recordings

Session 6 of DFI Exchange Group

Join us for the next DFI Exchange Group: Gender Champions Roundtable Series? We are inviting gender officers and gender focal points at DFIs to join us for the Gender Champions Roundtable Series taking place in October. The purpose of these online sessions is to exchange with your peers on the following topics: how to prepare and […]

Session 5 of DFI Exchange Group

Join us for an engaging peer learning experience focused on Alternative (to) Collateral for Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). This DFI Exchange Group provided valuable insights, technical guidance, and real-world examples from DFIs on key aspects of alternative (to) collateral. Date: 2 July 2025 Time: 09:00 EST/ 15:00 CEST/ 14:00 WAT/ 15:00 CAT / 16:00 EAT […]

Toward Fit-for-Purpose DFI Regulation in the SADC Region

Overview – Policy Brief The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) is spotlighting the critical role of National Public Development Banks (NDBs) in mobilizing domestic resources, crowding in private investment, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The First Draft of the Outcome Document, which outlines a renewed financing framework and emphasizes […]

Session 4 of DFI Exchange Group

You’re Invited to the 4th ICR Facility DFI Exchange Group on Wholesale Lending! Join us for an engaging peer learning experience focused on Wholesale Lending for Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). This two-part DFI Exchange Group will provide valuable insights, technical guidance, and real-world examples from DFIs on key aspects of wholesale lending. Our guest speakers […]