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EBRD’S Gender Program Lesia Haliv October 2008

EBRD’S Gender Program Lesia Haliv October 2008. Agenda. EBRD mandate EBRD – Gender Promotion Today Moving forward. What is the EBRD?. International financial institution, promotes transition to market economies in 28 countries from central Europe to central Asia

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EBRD’S Gender Program Lesia Haliv October 2008

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  1. EBRD’S Gender ProgramLesia Haliv October 2008

  2. Agenda • EBRD mandate • EBRD – Gender Promotion Today • Moving forward

  3. What is the EBRD? • International financial institution, promotes transition to market economies in 28 countries from central Europe to central Asia • Owned by 61 countries and two inter-governmental institutions • Capital base of €20 billion Cumulative commitments €36.9 billion Unaudited December 2007

  4. What are the EBRD’s objectives? • To promote transition to market economies by investing mainly in the private sector • To mobilise significant foreign direct investment • To support privatisation, restructuring and better municipal services to improve people’s lives • To encourage environmentally sound and sustainable development

  5. The EBRD today • Signatory to Millennium Development Goals and Recipient of 2008 Gender Torch • Revised Environmental and Social Policy • Included gender equality as important objectives to be achieved through projects • New 2008 Gender Action Plan • Banking operations (illustrations) • MSE – lending and institution building • Equity operations (Boards) • Business Advisory Services to Entrepreneurs • Women in Business networking event at AGM

  6. MSEGender Impact • Microfinance has been widely credited for empowering women by increasing their contribution to household income, the value of their assets, and control over decisions that affect their lives. • Since 1997 the Bank has invested € 1 billion under its Micro Enterprise Lending Programmes with €573 million outstanding as of 2007. • Small businesses are the pillars of a vibrant market economy. Not only do they create jobs, they add to a more diverse and democratic society. • Innovative Tajik Agricultural Financing Facility will also provide support to women who manage some of the smallest farms.

  7. Eastern Europe and Caucasus (2007) Number of Loans Disbursed Volume of Loans Disbursed Women Borrowers Women Borrowers Figures are gathered from portfolio reports provided by 11 FIs across the region

  8. Central Asia (2007) Number of Loans Disbursed Volume of Loans Disbursed Women Borrowers Women Borrowers Figures are gathered from portfolio reports provided by 13 FIs across the region

  9. Sample Outreach of Central Asian MFIs by country* (2005) * Microfinance Institutions in Central Asia: Benchmarks and Analysis 2005 – Medians (Microfinance Institution exchange, Inc) ** The 22 respondents alone cover more than half of the borrowers

  10. Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) Training Trade Finance training Kazakhstan UCP 600 Turkmeninstan Trade Finance training Russia Trade Finance training Mongolia

  11. Participants in Caucasus TFP Training Services (18 women out of 28 participants) – May 2007 • Head of International Operations • Deputy Head of Loans and Resources • Settlements Manager • Head of International Relations and Documentary Business Department • Chief Specialist of International Relations and Documentary Business Department • Heads of International Relations Division (2) • Economist of Trade Finance Division • Head of LC and Guarantee Division • Economist of LC and Guarantee Division • Economist, Correspondent Banking Division • Trade Finance Specialist • Junior Trade Finance Specialist • Specialist of International Relations Division • Specialist on International Documentary Operations • Head of Corporate Services • Trade Finance Specialist • Operations Manager

  12. BAS Women Entrepreneurs Initiative began in Azerbaijan • Business Advisory Service (‘BAS’) programmes, through funding local consultants, assist enterprises enhance their competitiveness, marketing and financial management, quality management systems and strategic business planning. • The BAS Women Entrepreneurs Initiative began in Azerbaijan in 2004 with a women workshop run in cooperation with the Soros Foundation • Contacts with 20 women grew into an informal network of Women in Business, starting new businesses and helping the growth of established women-owned enterprises • 37 SMEs assisted in future growth in the regions of Guba, Sumgayit, Ganja and others • 40 jobs were created, 20 in the newly started enterprises, 20 due to growth achieved in others

  13. The Women Entrepreneurs Initiative in the South Caucasus funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (2005) • Objectives: • Support women identified as having feasible business ideas to enable business start-ups and help the growth of established women-owned enterprises; • Contribute to the creation of more formal “Women Networks”, in regions where there are embryonic commercial activities of women (for example in the tourism or food processing sector); • Work closely with the EBRD to improve access to micro lending institutions for these women, based on business plans developed in workshops.

  14. Obstacles to Women Entrepreneurship In the business preparation phase: • Lack of information concerning the registration of enterprises • Lack of knowledge and experience in a market economy • Lack of business training and confidence During the business start-up period: • Difficulties in obtaining credit, largely due to lack of collateral • Lack of ongoing support • Confidence collapses as soon as problems are encountered • No role models to show that women can succeed

  15. Challenges Remain in the Caucuses • Most women still tend to stay within their comfort zone, in traditional female industries. Upon completion of the “Start Your Business” workshops, most women, even from the younger generation, wanted to start beauty shops, fashion boutiques, or restaurants. • Offering one-off training is an important entry point, yet ongoing support to women is required to ensure long-term sustainability, business growth and to contribute to confidence building. • Several workshops conducted during the first phase were aimed at developing suitable business plans to ease access to finance. However, the results in terms of obtaining credit were very limited. • The unique approach of the BAS model is to work directly with entrepreneurs based on the belief that being economically self-reliant, women will increase their self-esteem and confidence to play a more active role in all aspects of life.

  16. Moving forward • Implementing Gender Action Plan • Hiring Gender Action Plan Coordinator • Pilot Projects in Romania, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia • Continued financing of MSMEs and institution building

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