Bridging the Gender Gap: Designing Credit Products to Empower Women’s Economic Growth

Improving access to financial products is vital for inclusive economic growth, yet a gender gap remains. In low- and middle-income countries, only 21 percent of women use formal loans or mobile banking, compared to 25 percent of men. This limited access to capital hinders women’s participation in the economy and impacts their quality of life. The discussion will focus on how credit products support women’s economic activity and highlight five areas that influence their effectiveness: screening processes, collateral requirements, borrower identification, disbursement channels, and repayment flexibility. A panel will discuss these findings, research gaps, and actions to improve credit products for women.