‍How can we increase accessibility of women's formal finance in India?‍

With the growing recognition of women entrepreneurs' contribution towards economic growth, IFC commissioned Athena to undertake a nation-wide diagnostic study. It looked at the demand and supply of women's formal finance for women-owned Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The study estimated the gap through a hybrid approach, including both secondary estimation and primary data collection. It also profiled women-owned businesses, their needs for financial and non-financial services, uptake of financial products and the barriers to their access. It subsequently identified and presented key areas of focus to improve women entrepreneurs' access to finance.