Despite their significant contributions to household and community economies, women often face systemic barriers in accessing formal financial services. Traditional lending models can be blind to the unique social constraints, collateral limitations, and business models that are prevalent in women's economic lives, perpetuating a cycle of financial exclusion. Gender-sensitive lending is a strategic approach that goes beyond simply increasing access; it actively redesigns financial products and services to address these deep-seated inequalities, unlocking women's full potential as entrepreneurs and economic agents.

This course will provide you with the critical knowledge and practical skills to integrate a gender lens into every stage of the lending process. You will learn how to identify and dismantle gender-based biases, develop financial products that are truly responsive to women's needs, and create a supportive institutional culture. By focusing on both financial and non-financial services, this program will empower you to build more equitable and effective lending programs that drive sustainable economic growth and create a more inclusive financial system for all.

Duration: 5 days

Target Audience:

• Microfinance and financial institution managers
• Loan officers and credit analysts
• Development and humanitarian aid practitioners
• Gender specialists and consultants
• Social entrepreneurs and startup founders
• Financial inclusion researchers
• Policy and regulatory advisors
• Project managers in women's economic empowerment
• Professionals in financial technology (FinTech)

Objectives:

• Master the core concepts of gender-sensitive lending.
• Understand the socio-economic barriers women face in accessing finance.
• Design and adapt financial products to meet women's unique needs.
• Apply a gender analysis framework to lending operations.
• Grasp the role of non-financial services in enhancing impact.
• Understand the importance of disaggregated data for decision-making.
• Develop strategies for overcoming cultural and social norms.
• Create a gender-inclusive organizational culture.
• Identify and mitigate risks specific to women-centric programs.
• Measure the financial and social impact of gender-sensitive lending.

Module 1: The Rationale for Gender-Sensitive Lending

• The economic and social case for investing in women
• The limitations of traditional lending models
• How gender bias affects access to credit
• The link between women's financial inclusion and sustainable development
• The concept of gender-responsive finance

Module 2: A Gender Analysis of Client Needs

• Conducting gender-sensitive market research
• Understanding women's cash flow patterns and savings habits
• Identifying barriers to loan repayment and asset accumulation
• The role of informal financial groups and social networks
• Tailoring products to meet the diverse needs of women

Module 3: Designing Gender-Responsive Products

• Developing flexible loan terms and repayment schedules
• Creating innovative savings and insurance products
• Designing products for women-owned micro and small enterprises (WSMEs)
• The importance of a simple and accessible product design
• Integrating a gender lens into agricultural and climate finance products

Module 4: Non-Financial Services & Support

• The role of financial literacy training for women
• Providing business and management skills development
• Building self-confidence and leadership skills
• The importance of peer support and group models
• Offering linkages to markets and value chains

Module 5: Overcoming Social and Cultural Barriers

• The impact of social norms on women's autonomy
• Strategies for engaging male household members and community leaders
• Addressing issues of collateral and legal ownership
• Designing for privacy and security in a patriarchal context
• The role of women loan officers and staff

Module 6: Data, Technology, and Measurement

• The importance of collecting gender-disaggregated data
• Using data to inform and improve program design
• Leveraging technology to enhance accessibility and privacy
• Measuring the social impact on women's empowerment
• The tools and indicators for assessing change

Module 7: The Role of Staff and Institutional Culture

• The importance of a gender-balanced workforce
• Training staff on gender-sensitive communication and practices
• Creating a safe and supportive work environment for women
• Developing a code of conduct and ethics
• The role of leadership in championing gender equality

Module 8: Risk Management and Client Protection

• Identifying and mitigating risks for women borrowers
• The danger of over-indebtedness and its impact on women
• Designing a client protection framework
• Addressing grievances in a gender-sensitive manner
• The importance of ethical marketing and communication

Module 9: Partnerships and Ecosystem Building

• Collaborating with NGOs and community organizations
• Partnering with FinTechs for digital solutions
• Engaging government bodies and regulators
• The role of industry associations
• Building a network for knowledge sharing and advocacy

Module 10: Scaling and Sustainability

• Strategies for scaling women-centric programs
• Ensuring the financial viability of gender-focused initiatives
• Attracting gender-lens investment and funding
• The long-term impact on poverty reduction and gender equality
• The future of financial inclusion for women

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.