Micro-finance programs since the mid 1990s have increasingly targeted women because of their higher repayment rates compared to men, and potential contributions of female-targeted micro-finance to poverty reduction and women’s empowerment.
These last assumptions have become increasingly questioned in the light of changing views on poverty reduction strategies and also gender impact studies. There is now increasing attention to locating micro-finance better within the wider development agenda – for example linkages with value chain development and economic policy.
There have also recently been important changes in the relationship of micro-finance to the broader financial sector with the increasing entry of commercial banks and other private sector players.
However in all these trends, gender issues and specifically women's empowerment, continue to be marginalised.
WEMAN is working towards an inclusive financial sector where gender justice is mainstreamed in all institutions from banks through to community managed funds work together to promote gender justice. WEMAN is developing the following:
- Protocol for Good Practice Guidelines and models
- Gender indicators for Social Performance Management
- GALS-based sustainable methodology for financial literacy and participatory market research
- Gender audit for organisational mainstreaming
- Gender guidelines for consumer protection
- Training materials and capacity building with financial institutions