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Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (Lao PDR)
Lao PDR
2014
Ongoing
Keywords
Access to finance; Capacity building
Project description
WEOF aims to close the global credit gap for women SMEs, which stands at approximately USD$1.5 Trillion. WEOF provides direct investments to financial institutions for lending to women-owned SMEs on commercial terms. WEOF also provides advisory services to assist financial institutions design and roll-out new products and services specifically tailored to women SMEs.
Primary thematic area
Secondary thematic areas
Financial services
Project details
Umbrella programme
Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility
Accountable Org(s)
International Finance Corporation; Goldman Sachs
Funding Org(s)
International Finance Corporation; Goldman Sachs
Implementing/
Partner Org(s)
Partner country business unspecified
Project contact
John McNally, Media relations, IFC (jmcnally@ifc.org)
Funding (USD)
Committed
Spent
$
$
Project website
https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/dda519ef-ef2b-4bf4-910f-38d669ceddb7/WEOF_Report%2312-final.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=mTqaciI
https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000women/weof-infographic/index.html
D-Portal link
Project evaluation
Evaluation source
In house WEOF Progress Report 2019 included data from 19 Financial Institutions (FIs) out of 53 WEOF participating FIs, that have reported results as of December 2017. Data obtained via IFC 'Reach' Surveys, which colelcts data from FIs on their loan portfolios. The indicators used to assess WEOF�s impact in the report are: loans outstanding to WSMEs and to SMEs in terms of numbers and dollar values, as well as non-performing loans for both WSMEs and SMEs. The number of WSMEs projected to be reached by 2024 is estimated based on the target agreed with client FIs at the time of project commitment.
Evaluation methodology
Quantitative
Programme targets
Outcomes:
Expand and deepen financing for women SMEs in developing countries;
Empower women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital and expertise;
Deomnstrate the commercial viability of investing in women.
Outputs:
USD$600million in loans to women-owned businesses;
100,000 women financed;
Results achieved
As at 2021:
$1.76 billion in new loans issued to women-owned businesses.
72,000 women financed
2019 Progress Report states: "Halfway into the life of the facility, WEOF has already exceeded its investment and mobilization goals, and has made strong progress towards achieving its objectives, helping to close the global credit gap for women SMEs".
Additional achievements as at 2019:
53 emerging market financial institutions that are their lending to women SMEs;
33 countries reached
WEOF participating client banks are seeing growth in lending to women SMEs;
86 percent increase in number of loans to women SMEs
Targets met?
Outcomes:
Expand and deepen financing for women SMEs in developing countries;
Empower women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital and expertise;
Deomnstrate the commercial viability of investing in women.
Outputs:
USD$600million in loans to women-owned businesses;
100,000 women financed;
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