Are Pakistan's Women Entrepreneurs Being Served by the Microfinance Sector? (Directions in Development)

Fostering the entrepreneurship of women is important for Pakistan’s economic growth and inclusion agenda, and access to financial services is an important component of starting and growing a business for women entrepreneurs. The original purpose of Are Pakistan's Women Entrepreneurs Being Served by the Microfinance Sector? was to determine whether women entrepreneurs have access to, and are using, microfinance loans as a source of finance for their businesses. However, the findings of the book go beyond the narrow objective of understanding whether microfinance providers are reaching Pakistan's businesswomen. As the research unfolded, the evidence suggested that not only are women entrepreneurs not being served, but also most of the loans for women clients are actually being used by a male family member-a brother, a son, a husband, a father. Actual numbers are hard to pin down, but an estimated 50 to 70 percent of the loans on the books for women clients are solely used by another household member, while the woman 'borrower' is responsible for attending all the group meetings, all repayments or delinquencies, and all the transactions costs. This book focuses on products, services, policies, and other elements of the business model of microfinance in Pakistan that affect both demand for and access to microfinance by women borrowers, some of whom fall into the narrower category of entrepreneurs. Financial services are important for women who are starting and growing a business, but in Pakistan microfinance providers are not reaching the country's businesswomen. Most loans made to women borrowers are passed on to male relatives, many loan products for women are not suitable for small businesses, and discriminatory practices are pervasive. The information presented in Are Pakistan's Women Entrepreneurs Being Served by the Microfinance Sector? will be useful to development practitioners, entrepreneurs, policy makers, businesswomen, and students of microfinance in Pakistan and around the world.