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Addressing the $1.7 Trillion Gender Gap Through Financial Inclusion
Access to finance remains one of the main barriers facing women-owned and women-led small and medium-sized enterprises across developing markets. Globally, these businesses face an estimated $1.7 trillion financing gap. That gap limits growth, reduces income opportunities, and holds back broader economic participation. It also reflects a wider imbalance in how financial systems serve women as entrepreneurs, clients, and leaders.
The Global Gender-Smart Fund (GGSF) was created to respond to this challenge through financial inclusion. The fund aims to strengthen the provision of gender-smart and responsible financial services to underserved women, women-owned businesses, and women-led businesses in developing markets.
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