Inclusive Capital Allocation

IFC works with the private sector to drive inclusive capital allocation, empowering women-owned and led enterprises with the resources and skills needed to thrive in today's competitive market.

A woman executive in Sri Lanka reviews materials for her distribution company. Photo: CaptureEye

Women are key drivers of global economic growth, creating jobs and generating income. In many emerging markets, women are starting businesses faster than men, significantly contributing to economic development. Yet, they face barriers—particularly in accessing capital, assets, and networks. The World Bank Women, Business and the Law reports that women have only 75% of the economic rights of men, with restrictions preventing them from fully participating in the economy.

Access to financial and nonfinancial services is one of the key barriers for women. An  IFC study noted that the SME finance gap for female entrepreneurs in developing countries at $1.48 trillion. Additionally, women’s ability to mitigate financial risks through insurance remains low. The insurance sector alone could unlock up to $1.7 trillion by 2030 by targeting women, with half of this potential in emerging markets —half of which could be in emerging markets, according to an IFC study from 2015.

That’s why IFC works with the private sector to drive inclusive allocation of capital to support both individuals and businesses. We help promote women-owned and led, micro, small, and medium enterprises (WSMEs) by providing the tools and resources they need to enhance their confidence, capacity, capital, community, and access to contracts.

Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)

We-Fi, is a collaborative partnership among the 14 governments, six multilateral development banks, and other public and private stakeholders. We-Fi invests in programs and projects that help unlock billions of dollars in financing to address the full range of barriers facing women entrepreneurs—increasing access to finance, markets, technology, and mentoring, while also strengthening policy, legal and regulatory frameworks.

As one of the We-Fi Implementing Partners, IFC’s work with We-Fi supports private sector clients with investment and advisory services to expand financial services and market access for women-owned and led businesses.

Banking on Women

As of June 2023, IFC’s Banking on Women business has mobilized investment, and provided advisory expertise to its financial institutions partners with a cumulative 251 investment and advisory services projects in 76 countries, resulting in $10.05 billion investments for financial institutions targeting women, with $4.29 billion specifically dedicated to financing women-owned/led SMEs. An estimated 38% of the projects are in IDA and Fragile and Conflict-Affected (FCS) countries.

Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF)

In partnership with Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women initiative, IFC launched the WEOF in 2014 - the facility to increase access to finance to as many as 100,000 women entrepreneurs in emerging markets. IFC uses WEOF funds to provide investment and advisory support, in line with Blended Finance principles. Learn more about WEOF through the progress report.

IFC Women's Insurance Program

By increasing awareness of the significant opportunities women represent as customers and employees, providing guidance to insurance companies, intermediaries, and fintechs on tapping into the women's market, and fostering knowledge-sharing among industry stakeholders, IFC Women's Insurance Program aim to drive growth and investment in this vital sector.

Women's Entrepreneurship Training

IFC's women's entrepreneurship training helps strengthen the management skills of owners, managers, and staff of small and medium enterprises. The training includes online and off-line modules on leadership, finance, and management. It also enables women entrepreneurs to flexibly tap into the knowledge of their peers and to receive business coaching.

She Wins

She Wins is an IFC -led program designed to unlock the potential of hundreds of women-owned startups by offering them advice, training, mentorship, and improved access to finance. IFC launched She Wins Arabia in 2021 and She Wins Africa in 2023. The programs also provide gender-smart investing training for funds, accelerators, and venture capital investors to help accelerate investments in women-led startups.

Invest2Equal

Invest2Equal, is an IFC-led program launched in 2022 in partnership with the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), that brings together IFC portfolio fund managers to make specific, measurable, and time-bound commitments to increase gender diversity within their firm and/or investment processes.

Startup Catalyst

Startup Catalyst is a platform designed to invest in incubators, accelerators, and seed funds supporting innovative early-stage startups in emerging markets through mentoring, networking, and funding.

Scale X

IFC and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) launched IFC ScaleX - a global program which aims to increase access to early-stage risk capital for women-led startups in emerging markets.