Access to Capital: Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets

The importance of women’s role in global economic development is indisputable. Workforce participation and entrepreneurial activity by women not only increase a country’s GDP, but also improve health and education outcomes for them and their children. For entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world, access to capital is both challenging and vital for growth. For women in emerging markets, the barriers to funding can be nearly insurmountable. Banks and other institutions have increased the funding for women entrepreneurs. However, simply providing more funds, while an important step, will not solve the problem. Recent research highlights the importance of market-centric, skills-based training programs that address the specific characteristics of women entrepreneurs and the challenges they face. This chapter outlines universal best practices in training adult entrepreneurs and business owners. It then describes the design and delivery of a tested access to capital program designed specifically for women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.